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January: Bitters

January 01, 2025

Bitters: The secret ingredient that adds depth and balance to your favorite cocktails

Lending a delicious depth to many of your favorite cocktails, bitters are the secret ingredient often overlooked in the world of alcohol. Added in mere drops, they are the herbs, spices or simply the salt and pepper of the cocktail world, and while you may not have known they were there, you would certainly notice if they weren’t.

The history of bitters stretches back to the Middle Ages, where small amounts of bittering agents were used to cleanse the body and support digestion. They were developed over generations and in the 18th and 19th centuries different combinations were formulated by doctors across continents. The process involved drawing out extracts from seeds, bark, flowers, leaves and other plant matter to concentrate and add to an alcohol base. While they are now used for a depth of flavor, their original design was strictly medicinal—a classification that allowed them to legally survive even through Prohibition in the US.

The Japanese Bitters’ lineup featuring Japan’s finest ingredients (JCC AGENT Co. Ltd)

One of the most well-known bitters is Angostura, made from a secret combination of herbs and spices along with gentian, a herb with a distinct flavor. Alternatively, Peychaud’s Bitters is a more floral option originating from New Orleans in the 19th century with a cherry and anise flavor. Both were originally sold as medicinal tonics for stomach upsets and seasickness, formulated by doctors and timed perfectly for the boom in cocktail popularity.

In Japan, JCC AGENT Co. Ltd has taken to the craft of these extracts with a truly local twist. Founded by Yuki Yamazaki, they have developed The Japanese Bitters, seeking to bring the landscapes and produce of Japan to the international cocktail scene. Producing the country’s first locally sourced bitters, they are situated in Chiba Prefecture but select their key ingredients from the best regions in the country, ensuring the flavors speak for themselves. Their approach has garnered serious recognition impressing cocktail aficionados far and wide, with their bitters series now available in 22 countries and named as one of the top ten bitters brands at the world’s most prestigious Drinks International Awards.

A refreshing Gimlet accentuated with Hinoki Bitters, offering a bright citrus base infused with warm, woody notes of cypress. (JCC AGENT Co. Ltd)

Their five specialist flavors showcase the best of Japanese ingredients, each creating the perfect base for different cocktails. Their classic Umami Bitters delivers an earthy depth with seaweed, bonito and shiitake mushroom essence, brightened by citrusy yuzu peel. Its famously savory profile is suggested for an Old Fashioned, Bloody Mary or Negroni. The Yuzu Bitters, featuring fragrant yuzu from Tokushima Prefecture, is a crisp and refreshing addition ideal for a Gin and Tonic, Martini or Margarita. Crafted with the highest quality shiso leaves from Chiba, the Shiso Bitters lends a mint-like complexity to a Gimlet, Whiskey Sour or tequila-based cocktail. Among their most innovative creations, the Hinoki Bitters infuses cocktails with a warm, woody element from cypress woodchips, pairing beautifully with whiskey-based cocktails like a Manhattan. Lastly, their seasonal favorite Sakura Bitters captures the delicate floral essence of cherry blossom from Nagano Prefecture and cherry leaves from the Izu region in Shizuoka Prefecture, adding an elegant touch to drinks like a Gin and Tonic, Negroni or Cosmopolitan.

Sawara, Chiba Prefecture(GoogleMap)

While they don’t offer tours of the factory in Chiba, visitors can arrange a tasting experience if booked in advance, with bottles available to take home. Located in the quiet town of Ichikawa City, they’re within driving distance of both Narita Airport and central Tokyo, making it an ideal stopover or day trip. Whether it’s scaling the dramatic outcrops of Mt. Nokogiri (sawtooth mountain), wandering through the Edo-period streets of riverside Sawara, or savoring the region’s incredible produce including figs, sweet potatoes or mushrooms, Chiba will provide you with plenty of opportunities to embrace the Japanese landscape. So leave the big city behind and spend your days exploring the outdoors and your evenings sampling their delicate flavors, in new combinations you certainly won’t have tried elsewhere.

For more details, contact DMC Japan to discuss ideas, locations and rates.
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