Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/343292
I SPRING/SUMMER 2014 • 55 nspired by pre-Prohibition cocktail books and classic recipes, bartenders Stephan Berg and Alexander Hauk established The Bitter Truth in 2006. Co-owner Berg ex- plains, "Bitters were key ingredients in the old days, and since hardly any bitters were available in recent times when classic cocktails became the subject of inspiration for bartenders, we saw the opportunity to bring them back and redefine the category." They started with aromatic bitters, orange bitters and orange flower water for their popularity in classic drinks. Lemon bitters were quickly added to the range with grapefruit not far behind. Next up was celery. Berg explains, "We came across recipes that required celery bitters, but nobody we could find had ever tried some or had surviving bottles. This was a great chance to bring it back and we certainly wanted to be the first to revive this lost ingredient." As the brand grew, bitters, once again, became vital to the mixology world. "Once you are a bartender, you learn how to combine things to create something that is more than just the sum of its ingredient," says Berg. "You learn about balance and how things work together. Bitters act like a bridge between in- gredients. They smooth the edges, build balance and add flavor. It's the spice rack for the bar." But they didn't stop at bitters. "Due to our bartending background and experience, we knew there was more missing," explains Berg. So The Bitter Truth extended their line to include liqueurs, to recreate fla- vors that once played an important role in the cocktail, such as Violet Liqueur and Pimento Dram, and Pink Gin, inspired by the classic drink gin and bitters. Amargo Fizz • 1½ oz. Knob Creek Rye Whiskey • ½ oz. Amargo-Vallet • ½ oz. simple syrup • ¾ oz. fresh squeezed lemon • 1 egg white • Bitter Truth Lemon Bitters Combine ingredients and shake without ice then strain into Collins glass. Add cold club soda to tin and hard pour to top up. Add Bitter Truth Lemon Bitters, atomized on foam. A Bitter Balance Truth: Bitter The