Why bitter soda is your go-to drink for January - Vivsco.com.ng

A popular drink among bartenders and restauranteurs, the refreshing flavor of bitters paired with soda water is the perfect calorie-burning punch for any occasion.

I discovered the joys of this drink in 2011 while living in Oregon. The other day, when I ordered a soda, the bartender at a German Beer Prost! bar asked me if I wanted a bitter. I had never thought about it before and I said, why not? What I remember was the sweet, tangy flavor (they used Angostura bitters) with a citrus twist that made me sit up straight and take notice. Since then, it has become my go-to drink and a great January drink.

Why bitter soda is your go-to drink for Dry January

A popular drink among bartenders and restauranteurs, the timeless sweetness of bitters paired with soda water is the perfect calorie-free treat for any occasion.

But bitters do contain alcohol, so it’s no laughing matter, right?

While it’s not 0.0% alcohol, a little bit of it in soda is a no-brainer. According to Angostura Bar, a popular bitters company, two drops in 6 ounces of water equals about 0.20% alcohol (some of their bitters are 44.7% alcohol by volume). Soter Teague, beverage director at Amor y Amargo, likes to add a few drops of bitters, or about a teaspoon of bitters, to a 12-ounce soda. That tab, combined with 12 ounces of soda, gives you about 0.63% alcohol by volume, which is slightly above the government limit for non-alcoholic beverages, which is less than 0.5% alcohol by volume, but still quite a bit.

The point is that the combination of these two ingredients creates the illusion of a drink with an alcohol content of more than 0.63% ABV, especially when poured into a Collins glass with a single fruit, making it seem like a more intoxicating drink.

“There’s no wrong answer, especially if you’re starting with seltzer or regular soda,” Teague says. “Pick your favorite flavor, and you’ll have a refreshing drink that won’t add weight and is also low in calories.”

A great bitter that’s easy to find is Angostura Bitters, a bitter from Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean. Named after its birthplace (now Ciudad Bolivar in Venezuela), Angostura is a health supplement that has been produced in Port of Spain, Trinidad, since the 19th century.

Daniel Jones, Angostura’s global ambassador, says: “The aromatic aroma of Angostura bitters combines a variety of gentian root, warm spices like cinnamon and cloves, bright citrus notes, and earthy and herbal notes, creating a refreshing, stimulating drink with a smooth, refreshing flavor.”

Angostura bitters are my favorite, but there are many different flavors of bitters to suit any occasion. Teague’s has a wide range of bitters, including a limited edition two-pack. Some of their food pairings are truly delicious.

Teague says, “I love Scrappy’s Celery Bitters Soda because it’s a delicious, spicy, and refreshing drink. "It's a great addition to a pastrami sandwich," Teague says. "If you want to add a little spice, try Bitter End's Chesapeake Bay Bitters. It's like Old Bay seasoning goes great with French fries."

Other products Tig offers include Nostalgic Bitters Cherry Bark Vanilla Bitters, which gives the soda a cola-like feel with notes of cherry and vanilla, and Gold Floyd Grapefruit Rosemary bitters that remind you of winter.

Don't like soda? Try this 7-ounce bottle. Top it off with a dash of Angostura bitters and a slice of lemon or a sprig of mint. Angostura's Jones calls the mocktail "the most popular drink on the island," highlighting the endless power of the bitters.

Teague says: "As I always say, the only way to beat the bitters is to stop using them."