Cocktails with Celery bitters
Celery bitters are cocktail bitters made by tincturing celery seed with supporting herbs and spices in high-proof spirit.
ABV44%That is high in the bottle, but negligible in the drink, since bitters are used only in dashes.
How it's used
A couple of dashes add a savory, green celery edge to gin, vodka or tequila, which is why they turn up in sours and gimlets. Use them anywhere you would reach for celery salt but don't want the salt.
Substitutes for Celery bitters
Celery stalk and aromatic bitters
Muddle a 2–3 cm piece and taste. It tastes greener, and a dash of bitters restores the bite.
Celery salt and aromatic bitters
A small pinch brings both celery and salt, and a dash of bitters restores the bite. If the drink has saline, use less of it.
Angostura aromatic bitters alone
Dash for dash, the drink keeps its bitterness and loses the celery.
Storage
Celery seed aroma holds up better than floral or citrus notes, though not as well as spice notes. The green, vegetal edge softens first. Kept cool, dark and closed, a bottle stays useful for a couple of years.
