Bitters cocktails are alcoholic drinks that contain a bittering agent as one of their ingredients. This agent may be a botanical extract, such as wormwood or gentian, or an artificial flavor, such as quinine. Bitters cocktails are usually dry and aromatic, and often contain a herbal element.

The history of bitters cocktails is somewhat murky, but it is believed that they originated in the early 19th century. One of the earliest recorded recipes for a bitters cocktail is the Martinez, …