Cherry-Vanilla Bitters

Combine all ingredients in a quart jar with a tightfitting lid. Close and store at room temperature. Let steep 14 days, shaking the jar every other day.

Strain alcohol from spices and store in a jar with a tightfitting lid in a dark place.

While some recipes for bitters call for gentian and other hard-to-find aromatics, you probably have almost everything you need to make this recipe on your spice rack. Round out your next Manhattan or Old Fashioned with a few dashes of this potent concoction.

Game plan: Simply straining the alcohol through a fine-mesh strainer will leave a few cloudy particles behind (which aren’t harmful). If you want completely clear bitters, strain through a coffee filter nested in the strainer.

The bitters will last indefinitely when stored in an airtight container in a dark spot.

This recipe was featured as part of our Bringing Bitters Back project, as well as our DIY Holiday Gifts Advent Calendar. | by Kate Ramos