Bold | Cardamom Bitters & Soda

Spicy, earthy, sharp

If you’re tired of sweet mocktails and you miss your Negronis, Fernet, and smoky scotches, give Bitters & Soda Cardamom, by the Bitter Housewife, a try.

This no-alcohol and zero-calorie sparkling beverage comes with spicy and earthy flavors, featuring cardamom balanced with bitter herbs and warm cinnamon. The flavor is surprisingly bold, making this drink ideal for a slow-sipping experience. The spicy bitter combo reminds me of the sharpness you find when drinking high-proof liquors, but without the kick.

I opened one of these before dinner. In hindsight I’d enjoy this more as a post-dinner digestif. I am thrilled to have found such a potent alternative to the small glass of Fernet I’d occasionally pour myself after an especially heavy dinner.

As a pre-dinner cocktail, I found Cardamom Bitters & Soda to be sharper and spicier than I had bargained for and browsed the Bitter Housewife recipes page for mixing ideas. The Italian Buck inspired me to add some ginger beer I had in my fridge. I’d also recommend a slice of lime or orange—if you need to take the sharp edge off, as I did.

Cardamom Bitters & Soda would also be good with some apple cider or some maple syrup and a thick slice of orange for an NA take on an Old Fashioned.

My naïve expectation that Bitter Housewife’s Bitters & Soda cans would merely be a more convenient and portable way of enjoying a seltzer with drops of bitters—that I could make at home—was completely wrong. There’s so much more depth and flavor in these — it’s not just bitters & soda water.

The Bitter Housewife gets into this a little in the FAQ:

How Are Your Bitters & Soda Different From, You Know, Bitters And Soda?

It's really not that different, that is in fact our inspiration. You may have noticed we also make cocktail bitters that many people, bartenders included, often add to soda water. [We developed a proprietary process to make the base for our Bitters & Soda completely free of alcohol, mixed them with soda water, and packaged it all in a cute can.] Our Bitters & Soda is a craft beverage, specifically balanced to be a standalone drink you can grab quickly and take anywhere with absolutely zero alcohol or sugar, not even a trace.

Here’s an idea: next time you’re at a bar or restaurant that doesn’t offer non-alcoholic brews or mocktails that appeal to you, ask for some bitters in soda water. (Why didn’t I ever think of this before?).

Big thanks to the Bitter Housewife for sending me a variety pack of three flavors of Bitters & Soda to try. I look forward to exploring the Aromatic and Grapefruit flavors next. (Also, the box was kind of fun!)