How to Make Bitters (and The Perfect Old Fashioned Cocktail)

Step 1

Start by drying your orange peel. Peel four medium oranges and cut the peels into thin strips. Spread on a baking sheet and bake for about one to two hours at 225 degrees, or until they are curling a bit at the edges and dried. Alternatively, if you have a dehydrator, you can dry your peels in that.

Step 2

Put two cups of Everclear and your orange peel (cooled) along with all of your spices in a glass container. Seal tightly and set in a cool and dry area.

Step 3

This mixture will sit for up to a month! You can swirl the jar every so often to agitate and mix the ingredients. If you like, test every few days for flavor saturation. Add a few drops to a glass of water to dilute it and do a taste test.

Step 4

Once you're happy with the flavor, strain all of the solid ingredients out by pouring the bitters through your coffee filter or cheesecloth.

Step 5

Fill your dropper bottles with the homemade bitters and keep or give as gifts!