A concentrated alcoholic liquid flavored with bitter herbs, spices, and plants—used in small amounts in cocktails and drinks.
From 'bitter' (Old English 'biter', meaning sharp taste) plus plural '-s'. Originally made as medicinal tonics in the 1800s before becoming cocktail ingredients.
Bitters were literally sold as medicine in the 1800s because the bitter compounds are thought to aid digestion—bartenders started using them in drinks, and what was once medicinal became the secret ingredient in classic cocktails like the Old Fashioned!
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