Bitters

Bitters are an essential item in the bartender’s toolkit—whether home or pro—and nothing sets a great cocktail apart like a handmade, bespoke version.

The Golden Moon Distillery in Golden, Colorado, recently closed its doors after 16 years of producing creative, award-winning craft spirits—such as its Amer Antik, closely based on a mid-19th century recipe. Here, Stephen Gould explains what went into the old-fashioned bitters, and he shares advice for up-and-coming distillers.

Disregard the purists. The sky’s the limit when it comes to variations on the old fashioned—especially when you make your own bitters or syrup, or when you change things up with the whiskey.