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It is said that Queen Elizabeth's favorite cocktail is gin and tonic with a dash of Angostura Aromatic Bitters. The preparation has a long history that was started by Dr. Siegert in 1872. Developed in his lab located in Trinidad, he developed the bitters as a digestion aid, but became the seasoning for the world's cocktails as its true legacy.
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Bitters are made much like coffee is by percolating hot water over the ground up barks, herbs and grains in the basket. The actual formula is a closely guarded secret, but resultant bitters do wonders for many of today's cocktails. Making of the bitters is a relatively simple process that takes up only a small corner of the "House of Angostura".
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The House of Angostura is by appointment of Queen Elizabeth II the manufacturer of Angostura Aromatic Bitters. There is a special "Diamond Jubilee" edition of the bitters that was made in very limited quantities for her 50th annaversary as the Queen of England.
The Aromatic Bitters is only a small portion, but the basis of what is now one of the largest manufacturer of rum and the aromatic bitters in the world. I found the tour and the simplicity of the operation to be very interesting. It is always a wonder to me how a simple idea can grow into a huge success like this one has. ;o)