Bitter End Bitters

Sure, I’ve heard of Angostura and Peychaud’s. I love the old timey labels. But until I tasted Bitter End Bitters, I didn’t really understand what bitters are, what they do, the incredible flavor they impart.

Before then, I’d thought of bitters as one of those mysterious ingredients on a cocktail recipe that performs an esoteric ritual duty – like a cryptic artifact of freemasonry that is unseen yet essential to any libration truly worthy of the esteemed title “cocktail.”

There’s been a resurgence of interest and artistry in the cult of cocktails in the past years, a pouring forth of previously unimagined combinations and equally noteworthy names… Cocktails have come into their own as a culinary genre of standing, beside the wine list and the entrees.

What’s intriguing to me about this whole cocktail revolution shindig is the fundamental aesthetic: the bedrock of any one of these innovative new concoctions is a fascination with and loyalty to tradition.

And that tradition includes the time honored addition of this thing called “bitters”. But of course, these aren’t your gran’s bitters. Bill York, proprietor and taste-i-tician of Bitter End Bitters, has brought a scientific precision and curiosity to the pursuit of singular new flavors, sourced from ingredients exotic and primary: cinnamon, cumin, allspice, lemon…

It was no small point of pride for me to visually capture the essence of the bitters for Local Flavor. In many respects this town is more a village than a city; Santa Fe isn’t really known for its sparkling night life. But as the birthplace of Bitter End Bitters, Santa Fe will hold its own in the history books of swell drinks.

Bitter End Bitters Santa Fe Photo by Gabriella Marks

Bill York, the master mind behind the complex flavors of Bitter End Bitters

Bitter End Bitters Santa Fe Photo by Gabriella Marks

The cast of characters at Bitter End Bitters

Bitter End Bitters Santa Fe Photo by Gabriella Marks

Each flavor is a direct descendent from ingredients as visually striking as they are bold tasting

Bitter End Bitters Santa Fe Photo by Gabriella Marks

The chief maestro of Secreto Lounge, mix-master-ologist Chris Miligan - the magician who puts the Bitter End Bitters to good use