Aromatic bitters are on my list of great passions--preferably sprinkled into a glass of iced sparkling water.
As something of an elixir junkie from childhood, my taste for bitters can probably be attributed to my mother's affinity for gin. It began with the ever-present, funky, forbidden little bottle that lived in the refrigerator...that of course I, being a somewhat mischievous child, couldn't resist. Campari came later and the true love affair blossomed.
Making homemade bitters is a good signal to the start of the holiday season--it's right up there with making fruit cake but smells better. Let's start with the bitters since they take at least a month to brew...
1/2 pound Seville orange peels--chopped
2 cups vodka (something decent)
2 tsp Cardamom
2 tsp Caraway
2 tsp Coriander
Plus any assortment of herbs/spices you want to try--I've tried peppercorns, lavender, cinnamon and ginger
Basically you just put it all in a jar and let it seep for a month--shake it every day or so.
Strain the alcohol into jar and put the orange peel etc. into a saucepan. Crush the seeds and cover with about 1 cup of water. Simmer for a few minutes. Pour this stuff into a jar and let it sit for a couple days. Strain the liquid into the alcohol jar and discard the peel etc.
Let me know if you try this, especially if you try any interesting herb combinations.
If this all too complicated you can buy some interesting flavors at Fee Brothers.
