If this is your first introduction to Crude Bitters, you are in for a treat. This company, founded in North Carolina in 2012, creates hand-crafted cocktail bitters and shrub syrup concentrates. Made in small batches using organic, non-GMO alcohol, their products contain no glycerin, no chemicals and no dyes. 

At Mad River Distillers, we are big supporters of hand-crafted products, and are proud to offer these uniquely flavored bitters at our Burlington Tasting Room. When you visit our retail section, you’ll find a whole wall dedicated to individual bitters bottles and sample sets. What we love about sample sets is they are a great introduction to the wide-ranging use of bitters across different cocktails, using different spirits. With so much flavor variety, we wanted to feature this particular bitters sample set from Crude, which features 5 bottles of their most popular bitters flavors. We’re also offering a cocktail recipe for each (some of which were found on the Crude website but given a little Mad River Distillers spin), so you can pick this set up and immediately make a variety of cocktails leveraging each.

Crude “Rizzo” Bitters

Rizzo bitters feature a blend of rosemary, grapefruit and black peppercorn. These bitters have such a distinctive flavor that they were the first bitters to ever win a Good Food award. 

WEST ERNEST 44
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1/2 oz. of Rum 44
-1/2 oz. of fresh grapefruit juice
-1/2 oz. of fresh lime juice
-1/4 oz. of grenadine
-1 can/bottle of IPA beer
-2 drops of Rizzo bitters

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients (except beer) in a shaker with ice. Shake and serve over ice in a collins glass. Top with IPA and a couple drops of Rizzo bitters. Add a grapefruit peel as garnish.

Crude “Big Bear” Bitters

Big Bear bitters are made using whole coffee beans and bittersweet cocoa nibs, which add a deliciously rich flavor to cocktails.

BIG RYE BOULEVARIDER
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1 oz. of Revolution Rye
-3/4 oz. of Campari
-1 oz. of Carpano Antica
-1 dropper Crude Big Bear Bitters

Instructions:
Add the rye, Campari and Carpano Antica to a mixing glass with ice. Stir well, then strain into a rocks glass. Top with Big Bear bitters. Add an orange peel as garnish.

Crude “Lindsay” Bitters

Lindsay bitters feature a blend of toasted pecan and magnolia bark, with just a hint of heat attributed to habanero. The magnolia bark provides a subtle floral aroma and a bitter finish to balance the nuttiness of the pecan.

MAD NOR'EASTER
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1.5 oz. of Straight Bourbon
-1/2 oz. of fresh lime juice
-1/2 oz. of maple syrup
-ginger beer
-Lindsay bitters

Instructions:
Add the bourbon, lime juice and maple syrup to a shaker with ice. Shake and serve over ice in a rocks glass. Top with ginger beer and 1 dropper of Lindsay bitters. Add a lime wheel as garnish.

Crude “Bitterless Marriage” Bitters

A cool spin on traditional aromatic bitters, Bitterless Marriage combines the tart and fruity base flavor of hibiscus with the floral aroma of lavender and the depth of oak.

FRENCH 44
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1 oz. of Rum 44
-1/2 oz. of fresh lemon juice
-1 tsp. of simple syrup
-Champagne or Prosecco
-Bitterless Bitters

Instructions:
In a shaker with ice, add the rum, lemon juice and simple syrup. Shake for 10 seconds, then strain into a champagne flute. Top with 3-4 oz Champagne or Prosecco. Add 6-8 drops of Bitterless Marriage bitters.

Crude “Attawanhood #37” Bitters

Attawanhood #37 bitters add the flavors of cherry, clove and cinnamon to your cocktail. This aromatic bitter is a variation of a classic aromatic, but the tart cherry flavor comes to the forefront, along with dark spice.

HOT SPICED CIDER
Ingredients - Yields 1 Cocktail:
-1.5 oz. of Vanilla Rum
-1/4 oz. of Orgeat (or Falernum)
-2 dashes of Dash Crude Attawanhood Bitters
-2 dashes of orange bitters
-hot cider
-cinnamon stick
-lemon twist

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients (except hot cider) in an Irish coffee mug. Stir to incorporate, then top with hot cider. Add a cinnamon stick and lemon twist as garnish.

Now that you’ve learned a little about each of the Crude sample set bitters, and you’ve discovered a cocktail recipe that can be made with each, be sure to visit our Burlington Tasting Room to pick up either the set or individual bottles from our retail section. You can also find bottles of each of our spirits available, as well as other supplies like Orgeat, simple syrup, maple syrup, grenadine, and even glassware. If you’re looking for even more cocktail recipe ideas, be sure to visit the Crude website. Happy mixing!

Written and published by Brianne Lucas on March 3, 2025.