PR Grapefruit Bitter Essence 20 ml

PR Grapefruit Bitter Essence 20 ml

Grapefruit is the grown-up member of the citrus family. Where the orange is kind and the lemon merely sour, the grapefruit has something more to say: a noble bitterness that lives in the peel itself and makes the mouth water. It is odd that so few have built a bitter around it – so we did it ourselves. Grapefruit Bitter is our own speciality, and we have not seen anything like it anywhere else.

The idea is simple: take the natural bitterness of grapefruit and reinforce it with two classics from the world of bitter roots and barks, cinchona and gentian. The result is a dry, pale and strikingly fresh bitter that belongs before the meal rather than after it. If you like bitters in all their forms, this one is a must to try.

Colour & Appearance

Once mixed, the bitter has a light golden-yellow to apricot tone, like grapefruit juice held up against the light. It is clear and sunny – a long way from the seriousness of the dark-brown herbal bitters.

Nose

The nose is like grating zest over a bowl. Freshly peeled grapefruit rind dominates, with its essential oils and faintly floral bitterness. Behind the freshness lie the dry, tonic-like note of cinchona bark and the earthy rootiness of gentian, plus a touch of bitter orange and white pepper.

Palate

The palate is dry, taut and refreshing. The attack is pure citrus fruit, with grapefruit’s characteristic blend of tart juiciness and peel bitterness. Then the cinchona steps in and extends the bitterness, dry and elegant as in a really good tonic, before the gentian lays a deeper, rooty bitterness at the base. There is virtually no sweetness here, which makes the bitter an excellent appetiser. The bitterness is distinct but clean, without roughness, and the fruit is there the whole way through.

Finish

The finish is long, dry and citrus-fresh. Grapefruit peel and cinchona linger, leaving the palate clean and curious about food.

How to Use

The essence is mixed with vodka or neutral spirit and can be enjoyed straight away. 20 ml makes 750 ml of finished bitter. Instructions are on the label.

Serving Suggestions

• Over ice with a strip of grapefruit peel – a taut aperitif.
• With tonic and plenty of ice for a doubly bitter, thirst-quenching long drink.
• With sparkling wine and a splash of soda as a spritz.
• With grapefruit soda and a pinch of salt on the rim of the glass.
• A few dashes in a gin and tonic or in a dry martini in place of bitters.

About the Essence

Grapefruit Bitter is part of the PR (Prestige) series and is one of the most individual items in the range – an essence for the curious home bartender and for everyone who thinks bitterness is an underrated flavour.

It works both as a drink in its own right and as a flavouring in mixed drinks, where a small addition delivers citrus lift and dry bitterness in one go.