1872 Cooling Cups and Dainty Drinks (Mixellany)

84 Bitter Drinks. the public-houses are invariably made of spirit, from orange-peel, cassia, gentian, cardamom seeds, or any other bitter that fancy dictates. The well-known tonic or bitter-cup is made of quassia wood. It is reputed to be stomachic, and to assist digestion. The roasted chips of this wood form one of the ingredients used as a substitute for hops in em- bittering beer. No doubt, simple bitters are useful when occasionally taken in moderation, but their excessive use must be deplorably destructive to health. Wine Bitters. —Take the thin peel of 1 lemon, 1 bitter orange ; add 3 oz. Cape sherry, 2 oz. of water ; infuse ; this is a capital tonic. American Stoughton Bitters. —16 oz. gentian root, 12 oz. orange-peel, 3 oz. Virginia snake-root, 1 oz. saffron, 1 oz. red saunders wood; grind these into a powder ; add ] gallon of rectified spirit; macerate for three weeks, constantly agitating for a fortnight; strain carefully; the last pint of liquor strain separately with pressure, and, when clear, add it to the clear spirit. Spirituous Bitters. — To 3 oz. dried Seville orange-peel, add 2 oz. gentian root, and J oz, car- damom seeds; macerate in 1|- pint spirits of wine for a month.