Steeped Botanical Bitters Cocktail
A fragrant cocktail infused with aromatic herbs and roots, delivering a complex bitter flavor balanced with citrus notes. This recipe, ready in about 10 minutes, brings together high-proof vodka, dried gentian root, dried orange peel for a refreshing, crowd-pleasing drink — a bright, easy pour for parties, gatherings, or any warm-weather afternoon when you want something festive without alcohol-only options. Each serving lands at about 150 calories and feeds 1, so it works for entertaining, brunch, or a non-alcoholic option at the bar cart. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 2 oz high-proof vodka
- 1 tsp dried gentian root
- 1 tsp dried orange peel
- 1 tsp dried angelica root
- 1/2 tsp dried wormwood
- 1/2 oz simple syrup
- 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
- as needed ice cubes
- 1 piece orange twist
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Combine 1 tsp dried gentian root, 1 tsp dried orange peel, 1 tsp dried angelica root, and 1/2 tsp dried wormwood in a clean glass jar. Pour 2 oz high-proof vodka over the botanicals, seal tightly, and let steep at room temperature for 48 hours, shaking gently once per day.
- Step 2: After steeping, strain the infused vodka through a fine mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth to remove solids, yielding your homemade bitters.
- Step 3: In a mixing glass, add 1 oz of the homemade bitters, 1/2 oz simple syrup, and 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice. Fill with ice and stir for 20 seconds until well chilled and slightly diluted.
- Step 4: Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with 1 piece of orange twist, expressing oils over the drink before dropping it in.









