🌿 Bitters and bitter spirits

A bitter is a spirit with a predominantly bitter taste, made by flavouring ethyl alcohol or distillates of agricultural origin. Under EU rules its strength is from 15 % vol. (category 30); gentian, a distillate of gentian root (category 18) of at least 37.5 % vol., stands apart.

Bitterness comes from herbs, roots and bark, for example wormwood or gentian. Gentian is a separate distillate of a single root, and flavouring it is forbidden. The botanicals are steeped in alcohol or distilled together with it, then the drink is sometimes sweetened and aged. If a liqueur is flavoured only with gentian, a similar plant or wormwood, the law requires at least 80 g of sugar per litre.

Categories: 18 Gentian, 30 Bitter-tasting spirit drink or bitter; bitter liqueurs fall under liqueurs (33). Protected names: Bayerischer Gebirgsenzian, Südtiroler Enzian, Genziana trentina, Rheinberger Kräuter, Steinfelder Magenbitter, Mariazeller Magenlikör, Blutwurz. Berenburg (category 43) is a brown spirit-based drink with distillates of gentian root, juniper and bay leaf, minimum 30 % vol.

These are German, Austrian and Italian traditions from the Alps and Tyrol. Italian amari, herbal monastery liqueurs and cocktail bitters are separate topics of this family.

Why it matters to you. “Bitter” on a label is not a promise of benefit: the EU forbids health claims on drinks above 1.2 % vol. A bitter can start from 15 %, and a bitter liqueur can be sweet. Check the strength and the words liqueur or bitter. WHO: no safe level of alcohol exists.

Other sections of this topic: Anise spirits; Liqueurs; Gin and juniper spirits; Caraway spirits and aquavit; Mulled wine and fortified wines; Honey spirit drinks; Rum and sugarcane spirits; How spirits are made; Label, law and health. All sections are gathered on the “Spirits” page.