Lemon, Lime, and Bitters

By Steve Kilcullen Jump to Recipe

A sweet and slightly spicy cocktail, the Lemon, Lime and Bitters is an interesting and completely refreshing sipping experience.

Tonight’s cocktail is… Well, if I’m being totally honest, I’d be hard pressed to call it an adult beverage. A refreshingly sweet mixture of lemon and lime juice or cordial, topped with club soda and a few dashes of bitters, isn’t exactly the strongest or most potent mixed drink on the block. In fact, despite its alcohol content, bitters are often categorized as “non-beverages”, due to the fact that the traditional use is usually just a drop or two in another libation.

The Lemon, Lime and Bitters has a long history, despite nobody knowing who truly invented and brought life to the recipe. Some claim it was born in Australia around the 1800s, where it started out as a homemade remedy. Over time, the mixture began to become popular with golfers in the country, as well as in New Zealand. Today it is customary to drink a few Lemon, Lime and Bitters at the “19th hole” after a long day on the links.

The cocktail has become so identified with the game, and the Land of Oz, that the Australian Broadcasting Company has labeled the beverage the country’s national drink.

What Is Bitters?

Bitters is a neutral alcohol that’s distilled and flavored with a number of roots, herbs, fruits and spices to create a bittersweet taste. Originally created for medicinal purposes, the strong and full-bodied mixture found fame as an essential element in many a well-known libation. In the United States, bitters is categorized as a “non-potable” product, which means they aren’t imbibed like a usual drink. Some stores that don’t sell liquor will often have bitters in their mixer section because of this, despite the product having around 45% ABV.

What Is The Best Bitters To Use In A Lemon, Lime, And Bitters?

Our recipe suggests using an aromatic bitters, so a classic and standard bottle of Angostura is the perfect choice. Most likely, you’ll have some already at your home bar, as it is a very popular ingredient used in numerous cocktail recipes. A few dashes while mixing, or as a topper, will add a subtle, yet robust kick to whatever drink it’s added to. Fee Brothers and Scrappy’s also have a fine line of bitters you can choose from.

FAQs & Tips

WHAT GLASSWARE AND GARNISH ARE USED?

Fill a rocks glass with ice before mixing your drink within. Once you’re ready for your first sip, garnish with a lime wedge.

CAN YOU STORE THE LEMON, LIME AND BITTERS?

No. Due to the presence of the club soda and bitters, it is best to make and serve this beverage fresh on a drink-by-drink basis.

HOW MANY CALORIES ARE IN A LEMON, LIME AND BITTERS?

This mixture is slightly on the lighter side of things, with each glass having around 102 calories.

CAN YOU USE ANY FLAVORED BITTERS IN THIS DRINK?

You can experiment with any of the varieties of bitters that are available on the market to make this cocktail slightly different every time. For example, try making this recipe using orange or lemon bitters for an extra citrusy bite and zing. There’s chocolate bitters, and wormwood too, if you want an absinthe-tinged experience. Honestly, there are a lot to choose from, so have fun.

Similar Drinks To The Lemon, Lime, And Bitters

If your liquor cabinet or shelf at home is without bitters of any kind, stop what you’re doing right now, go to the store and purchase a bottle of Angostura. No armchair mixologist should be without the bitter and, in many cocktails, essential ingredient. While there are plenty of drinks out there that don’t use the herbaceous and spicy alcohol, there seem to be way more that do. Below is just the smallest smattering of some legendary tipples that get a little help from bitters.

• A La Louisiane – Dashes of Peychaud’s bitters finish off this New Orleans classic.
• Bijou – Orange bitters help make this sweet and crisp cocktail unforgettable.
• Waldorf – Aromatic bitters add some extra spice to this rye whiskey elixir.
• Trinidad Sour – Here’s a cocktail where bitters form the base. “Intense” is an understatement.