From Robert Simonson at Off the Presses:

The Angostura bitters shortage that has shaken some cocktail quarters in New York has been bad news for high end cocktail bars, but it represents a golden opportunity to the folks at The Bitter Truth.

The German line of bitters is well known to many bartenders, but hasn’t been easy for the average Joe to lay his hands on. Until now. Just as the Angostura well runs dry (temporarily), Bitter Truth bottles have finally found American distribution and reached U.S. shores.  And the company has sent out a press release to let everyone know about it.

“While there’s no real substitute for a particular brand of bitters in a cocktail, The Bitter Truth Old Time Aromatic Bitters make an excellent stand-in for drinks that depend on Angostura, from Manhattan to Old Fashioned to Champagne Cocktail,” mixologist Misty Kalkofen of Drink in Boston, MA was quoted. “In a bitters-heavy Seelbach the combination of Bourbon and Peychaud’s make the aromatics of cinnamon, cardamom, anise and cloves in The Bitter Truth Old Time Aromatic Bitters sing.”

The Bitter Truth was founded in 2006 by mixologists Stephan Berg and Alexander Hauck. Types include celery… Read more

[ February 8, 2010 to February 11, 2010. ]

The Bitter Truth is a proud partner of the Cocktail All-Stars 2010 New York City Tour.

Julia Rappaport of the Boston Herald lets readers know where to find The Bitter Truth bitters in the Boston area:

BUY: BITTER TRUTH BITTERS

Cocktail enthusiasts: Have your panties in a bunch over the recent shortage of Angostura bitters? Help is on the way! Bitter Truth bitters is a German product new to U.S. markets and available for $18 a bottle at The Boston Shaker, set to open in its new location at 69 Holland St. (Somerville’s Davis Square) soon*. The first shipment arrived stateside this month in such tantalizing flavors as celery, lemon, grapefruit and xocolatl mole. Cin, cin!

* Update: As of February 5, 2010, The Boston Shaker is open for business.

via Gotta love it – BostonHerald.com.

Emily Kaiser of Food & Wine Magazine includes Grapefruit bitters in her article “A Taste for Bitter”:

Bitter Flavors for the Bar

Bitter flavors, which give food and cocktails balance and sophistication, are gaining an edge over sweet. Here, the best of the new.

GRAPEFRUIT BITTERS

Try a dash of Grapefruit bitters with club soda.

via A Taste for Bitter | Food & Wine.

The Bitter Truth appears in L.A. Splash magazine’s Valentine’s Day Food and Beverage Gift Guide:

“Founded in 2006, by mixologists Stephan Berg and Alexander Hauck, The Bitter Truth offers bartenders a broad range of cocktail seasonings and flavors. The products that will be available in the U.S. include the award winning Celery Bitters, Old Time Aromatic Bitters, Orange Bitters, Lemon Bitters, as well as the Chocolate and Grapefruit Bitters. All bitters are priced at $15.95 for a 200 ml bottle. A coveted item by bartenders around the world, The Bitter Truth Bitters can now be purchased nationwide.”

via Valentine’s Day Food & Beverage Gifts – 2010 Guide.

Jackie Patterson, bartender at Heaven’s Dog and Smuggler’s Cove in San Francisco, mixes two champagne cocktails using The Bitter Truth bitters on KGO-TV’s “The View From the Bay”:

Watch the video here: Make Champagne Cocktails at Home

Lilikoi (Hawaiian name for passionfruit)

Ingredients:

• .75 oz. Small Hand Foods Passionfruit Syrup
• 2 dashes The Bitter Truth Orange Bitters
• 4 oz. Sparkling WIne
• Garnish with an edible dendrobium orchid

Champagne Cocktail

Ingredients:

• 1 sugar cube
• 4 dashes Grapefruit Bitters
• 5 oz. Sparkling Wine
• Grapefruit Zest
• Garnish with Grapefruit Zest

The View From the Bay: Make Champagne Cocktails at Home