Orange Bitters (200 ml)

The Bitter Truth was founded in Munich in 2006 by bartenders Adam Elmegirab and Stephan Berg specifically to revive pre-Prohibition bitters styles that had vanished from European back bars — a deliberate act of historical reconstruction, not trend-chasing. The project began when Berg could not source quality orange bitters for classic cocktail service, so he formulated his own to exacting 19th-century standards.

Produced in Bavaria, the bitters are built on a neutral grain spirit base into which dried bitter orange peel is macerated alongside gentian root — the defining bittering botanical of the European tradition — plus cardamom and additional spice botanicals. The maceration-then-blending method extracts volatile aromatics without distillation, preserving the raw, resinous character of the peel.

ABV sits at 39%, higher than many competing orange bitters, which amplifies extraction and shelf stability.

What separates this expression from Angostura Orange or Regan's No. 6 is the pronounced gentian backbone: the bitterness is drying and herbal rather than sweetly citric, making it function as both a cocktail seasoning and a standalone digestif dash. The 200 ml format is sized for professional bar use.