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Bitters.....in a White Russian.....

northGAcock
northGAcock Posts: 15,173
in Off Topic
Last August I took my wife to Nashville celebrating one of our many aniversarys. We visited one of the local watering holes for drinks and dinner. Party ordered a White Russian and they added a bitters to the drink. Not at all knowledgeable about mixology (only mastered the Bloody to date).....anyone with knowledge of the bar have any ideas what that might have been? Somehow I never thought of bitters in this drink....but it could really be of benifit if I was to figure it out. 
Ellijay GA with a Medium & MiniMax

Well, I married me a wife, she's been trouble all my life,
Run me out in the cold rain and snow
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Comments

  • bgebrent
    bgebrent Posts: 19,636
    edited May 2018
    To get Party in bed?  Makes no sense to me. The bitters that is.  You are being very thoughtful.
    Sandy Springs & Dawsonville Ga
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  • northGAcock
    northGAcock Posts: 15,173
    edited May 2018
    bgebrent said:
    To get Party in bed?  Makes no sense to me. The bitters that is.  You are being very thoughtful.
    We arn’t talking grapes here Brent. 
    Ellijay GA with a Medium & MiniMax

    Well, I married me a wife, she's been trouble all my life,
    Run me out in the cold rain and snow
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  • Jeremiah
    Jeremiah Posts: 6,412
    No help here, as I don’t have clue what bitters are...but I can now say I’m never going back camping without bloodies. #thispastweekendsucked 
    Slumming it in Aiken, SC. 
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  • JohnInCarolina
    JohnInCarolina Posts: 34,686
    Not a standard part of the WR by any stretch, but there do appear to be some recipes out there for them that incorporate bitters:

    https://www.mensjournal.com/food-drink/the-white-russian-grows-up-20140131/

    Google is your friend with stuff like this, Robin.  Brent... Brent is not.  
    "I've made a note never to piss you two off." - Stike

    "The truth is, these are not very bright guys, and things got out of hand." - Deep Throat
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  • Wolfpack
    Wolfpack Posts: 3,552
    Bitters and club soda- your best friend for stomach aches 
    Greensboro, NC
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  • danv23
    danv23 Posts: 964
    This is a very complicated case, Maude. You know, a lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-you's. And, uh, lotta strands to keep in my head, man. Lotta strands in old Duder's head. Luckily I'm adhering to a pretty strict, uh, drug regimen to keep my mind, you know, limber.


    The Dude: This is a very complicated case, Maude. You know, a lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-you's. And, uh, lotta strands to keep in my head, man. Lotta strands in old Duder's head. Luckily I'm adhering to a pretty strict, uh, drug regimen to keep my mind, you know, limber.

    Walter Sobchak: Nihilists! *uck me. I mean, say what you want about the tenets of National Socialism, Dude, at least it's an ethos. 

    Cumming, GA
    Eggs - XL, L, Small
    Gasser - Blaze 5 Burner
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  • hoosier_egger
    hoosier_egger Posts: 6,808
    I thought it was bitters and bourbon? 
    ~ John - Formerly known as ColtsFan  - https://www.instagram.com/hoosier_egger
    XL BGE, LG BGE, Med BGE, BGE Chiminea, Ardore Pizza Oven
    Bloomington, IN - Hoo Hoo Hoo Hoosiers!

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  • The_Stache
    The_Stache Posts: 1,153
    Bitters are the HOPS for distilled beverages!!
    Kirkland, TN
    2 LBGE, 1 MM


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  • bgebrent
    bgebrent Posts: 19,636
    theyolksonyou said:
    As you know, I’m an expert in bitters.  That is all I have. 
    Qouthe the expert.  Problem solved.
    Sandy Springs & Dawsonville Ga
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  • YukonRon
    YukonRon Posts: 17,261
    First, happy anniversary to you and Party. 
    Second hope the trip to Nashville was fun and you got to hit a few of the juke joints there.
    Not a bitters person, but hey, I will try anything once.
    "Knowledge is Good" - Emil Faber

    XL and MM
    Louisville, Kentucky
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  • northGAcock
    northGAcock Posts: 15,173
    YukonRon said:
    First, happy anniversary to you and Party. 
    Second hope the trip to Nashville was fun and you got to hit a few of the juke joints there.
    Not a bitters person, but hey, I will try anything once.
    Ron....this was last August, we drove over to Nashville from Louisville. You may recall the numerous bottles of wine we had before heading over? 
    Ellijay GA with a Medium & MiniMax

    Well, I married me a wife, she's been trouble all my life,
    Run me out in the cold rain and snow
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  • YukonRon
    YukonRon Posts: 17,261
    northGAcock said:
    YukonRon said:
    First, happy anniversary to you and Party. 
    Second hope the trip to Nashville was fun and you got to hit a few of the juke joints there.
    Not a bitters person, but hey, I will try anything once.
    Ron....this was last August, we drove over to Nashville from Louisville. You may recall the numerous bottles of wine we had before heading over? 
    Probably the same amount we had here,tonight, for the neighborhood social.
    "Knowledge is Good" - Emil Faber

    XL and MM
    Louisville, Kentucky
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  • HendersonTRKing
    HendersonTRKing Posts: 1,803
    Bitters in a Dark and Stormy. And a Sazarac. White Russian???  Hmmmm. 


    It's a 302 thing . . .
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  • Theophan
    Theophan Posts: 2,656
    I like making cocktails, and I have a few bitters (they are two and some three deep in this photo):



    and I don't think I'd put ANY kind of bitters in a White Russian, but I could picture maybe Mole bitters going OK in one, given that chocolate is a big focus in Mole bitters.  Lots of others might be interesting as well, but bitters can REALLY change a drink, and I'm not sure I'd want to call it a White Russian anymore if if had bitters in it.  I have no problem with someone creating a great riff on a drink by doing something cool with it, but if it really isn't the same drink, anymore, why not just give it a different name.  (Don't get me started on chocolate "martinis...")

    I'd go back to the same bar and just ask them!  They'd probably tell you.
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  • DoubleEgger
    DoubleEgger Posts: 19,154
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  • dmourati
    dmourati Posts: 1,300
    I like when Lebowski calls it a Caucasian. 
    Plymouth, MN
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  • Focker
    Focker Posts: 8,364
    edited May 2018
    I've done some time behind the bar.
    Bitters doesn't belong in a WR.
    Adding a spash of Coke is a nice change up, Colorado Bulldog.
    Brandon
    Quad Cities
    "If yer gonna denigrate, familiarity with the subject is helpful."

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  • JRWhitee
    JRWhitee Posts: 5,678
    Have not heard that before, must be a Nashville thing.
                                                                
    _________________________________________________
    Don't let the truth get in the way of a good story!
    Large BGE 2006, Mini Max 2014, 36" Blackstone, Anova Sous Vide
    Green Man Group 
    Johns Creek, Georgia
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  • JohnEggGio
    JohnEggGio Posts: 1,430
    The “Whitey” is my wife’s family’s drink - they prefer blended.  I can’t imagine bitters in a whitey - starkly contrasting flavor.
    Maryland, 1 LBGE
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  • pgprescott
    pgprescott Posts: 14,544
    I’d contact the place. I bet they’d be happy to share with you. It’s a pretty friendly city. 
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  • northGAcock
    northGAcock Posts: 15,173
    pgprescott said:
    I’d contact the place. I bet they’d be happy to share with you. It’s a pretty friendly city. 
    I actually did....and they wrote me back telling me if i sent them my address, they would send me the secrete ingredient. I followed through.....they did not.
    Ellijay GA with a Medium & MiniMax

    Well, I married me a wife, she's been trouble all my life,
    Run me out in the cold rain and snow
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  • pgprescott
    pgprescott Posts: 14,544
    northGAcock said:
    pgprescott said:
    I’d contact the place. I bet they’d be happy to share with you. It’s a pretty friendly city. 
    I actually did....and they wrote me back telling me if i sent them my address, they would send me the secrete ingredient. I followed through.....they did not.
    Well that sucks!
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  • JohnInCarolina
    JohnInCarolina Posts: 34,686
    northGAcock said:
    pgprescott said:
    I’d contact the place. I bet they’d be happy to share with you. It’s a pretty friendly city. 
    I actually did....and they wrote me back telling me if i sent them my address, they would send me the secrete ingredient. I followed through.....they did not.
    I'd give them another call, and ask them what bitter substance the bartender is secreting into the White Russians.  You might get an answer that way.  
    "I've made a note never to piss you two off." - Stike

    "The truth is, these are not very bright guys, and things got out of hand." - Deep Throat
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  • SmokeyPitt
    SmokeyPitt Posts: 10,490
    Maybe chocolate bitters? 

    Woodford Reserve Bourbon Barrel Aged Chocolate Cocktail Bitters - 2 oz

    Which came first the chicken or the egg?  I egged the chicken and then I ate his leg. 

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  • SSQUAL612
    SSQUAL612 Posts: 1,186
    Theophan said:
    I like making cocktails, and I have a few bitters (they are two and some three deep in this photo):



    and I don't think I'd put ANY kind of bitters in a White Russian, but I could picture maybe Mole bitters going OK in one, given that chocolate is a big focus in Mole bitters.  Lots of others might be interesting as well, but bitters can REALLY change a drink, and I'm not sure I'd want to call it a White Russian anymore if if had bitters in it.  I have no problem with someone creating a great riff on a drink by doing something cool with it, but if it really isn't the same drink, anymore, why not just give it a different name.  (Don't get me started on chocolate "martinis...")

    I'd go back to the same bar and just ask them!  They'd probably tell you.
    Impressive collection...I’ve spent some time behind the bar as a mixologist & agree with Focker that a splash of coke adds another layer but then it’s no longer a White Russian.   I use bitters in some of my cocktails & add to stews & peas sometimes for an herbal essence.  There are so many choices now and looks like you are one to try different types.   
    Tyler, TX   XL BGE 2016, KJ Classic 2019,  MES, 18.5 WSM,  Akorn Jr,  36"&17" Black Stone, Adj Rig, Woo, Grill Grates, SS Smokeware Cap, KAB,  FB 300, Thermapen 
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  • Theophan
    Theophan Posts: 2,656
    SSQUAL612 said:
    Impressive collection... There are so many choices now and looks like you are one to try different types.   
    It's overwhelming.  I have a bunch of bitters, but it's a very small fraction of what's available out there.  What made it worse is that, while it's fun to sample different flavors, have a change of pace, once in a while, most of them honestly I haven't really been that crazy about.  There's a reason that good old Angostura survived when so many other bitters went out of business.  It really is my favorite by far (for a regular type of bitters, that is).  I don't try new ones very often, anymore.
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  • nolaegghead
    nolaegghead Posts: 42,109
    Bitters is not a flavor.  Unless you know what flavor bitters they added, how can you say it's no longer a white Russian? 
    ______________________________________________
    I love lamp..
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  • Theophan
    Theophan Posts: 2,656
    nolaegghead said:
    Bitters is not a flavor.  Unless you know what flavor bitters they added, how can you say it's no longer a white Russian? 
    Different people have different opinions about this sort of thing, of course.  I think the general issue is how far you can change something and still consider it the same thing.  The people running that bar apparently feel fine calling it a White Russian even though they modified it by changing its flavor.  Maybe you'd agree with them -- no problem!

    For an extreme version of the opposite point of view, though, consider the Gibson.  Classically, a Gibson was just a Martini with pickled cocktail onions as a garnish instead of the typical green olive or lemon twist.  Just changing the garnish was enough of a change in the character of a Martini that they gave it a different name!

    I tried a Daiquiri, once, that had a tiny bit of Angostura bitters in it, and it completely changed the character of the drink.  It was delicious, but it just didn't taste like a Daiquiri to me, and I would have given it a different name.

    There's no one right answer.  For myself, adding ANY kind of bitters to a White Russian is likely to change its flavor so much that I'd say it really doesn't taste like a White Russian anymore.  But maybe you and many others would agree with the bar that did it that of course it's still a White Russian.  There is no Cocktail Name Police, so far as I know...  ;)
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  • SSQUAL612
    SSQUAL612 Posts: 1,186
    Theophan said:
    nolaegghead said:
    Bitters is not a flavor.  Unless you know what flavor bitters they added, how can you say it's no longer a white Russian? 
    Different people have different opinions about this sort of thing, of course.  I think the general issue is how far you can change something and still consider it the same thing.  The people running that bar apparently feel fine calling it a White Russian even though they modified it by changing its flavor.  Maybe you'd agree with them -- no problem!

    For an extreme version of the opposite point of view, though, consider the Gibson.  Classically, a Gibson was just a Martini with pickled cocktail onions as a garnish instead of the typical green olive or lemon twist.  Just changing the garnish was enough of a change in the character of a Martini that they gave it a different name!

    I tried a Daiquiri, once, that had a tiny bit of Angostura bitters in it, and it completely changed the character of the drink.  It was delicious, but it just didn't taste like a Daiquiri to me, and I would have given it a different name.

    There's no one right answer.  For myself, adding ANY kind of bitters to a White Russian is likely to change its flavor so much that I'd say it really doesn't taste like a White Russian anymore.  But maybe you and many others would agree with the bar that did it that of course it's still a White Russian.  There is no Cocktail Name Police, so far as I know...  ;)
    Now now...no need to be bitter  ;)
    Tyler, TX   XL BGE 2016, KJ Classic 2019,  MES, 18.5 WSM,  Akorn Jr,  36"&17" Black Stone, Adj Rig, Woo, Grill Grates, SS Smokeware Cap, KAB,  FB 300, Thermapen 
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