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This article was first posted by Epicurious. What makes an otherwise ordinary meal special? What takes an already elegant dinner party to Martha Stewart or Ina Garten level? A lil’ treat. When you’re hosting guests for dinner, giving them something at the end of the evening (a post-dinner cocktail, a bonbon, a baked good to take home and eat for breakfast the next day) makes you look like the most prepared and thoughtful host, even if it requires next to no effort. Of course, classic end-of-meal lil’ treats include desserts like petit fours, truffles, and candies. But my favorite way to punctuate the meal—and impress...

This article was first posted by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation. It all started at the fourth stop on a five-stop, all day bar crawl, when we noticed a little collection of tiny, paper-wrapped bottles hanging on a post behind the bar—and then a question. “Have you ever tried Underberg?” We hadn’t, but we did about a minute later. I was glad to have been warned about the strong anise taste (among other wintry bitter flavors) — I’ve never been a licorice fan — but, like many, we had pretty strong reactions to it: we were about equally split on liking it and...

This article was first posted by VinePair. While not yet a household name in the U.S., Underberg has been a go-to digestif for Europeans ever since its 19th century release. A fifth-generation family business from Germany, Underberg and its namesake amber-colored bitter are a common sight in bars across Europe. Often compared to Fernet-Branca and Jägermeister, and beloved for its supposed hangover-healing properties, Underberg has developed a following among American bartenders for its rich, Christmas-like herbal qualities — some of whom even use the entire bottle in their cocktail creations. Read the full article here.

This article was first published by Hop Culture. Unwrap the brown paper, unscrew the plastic green cap, slap the little amber bottle down on the table, pick it up with your mouth, and let the collection of bitters and herbs in this digestif drip down your throat. You’ve just drunk an Underberg. But what exactly is this mysterious liquid? For years in America now it seems these ubiquitous bottles have graced tables at beer bars, stood ready at attention like a line of infantry soldiers behind the bar, and captivated drinkers around the world. Read the full article here.

This article was first posted by Food & Wine. What’s in those super tiny, wildly bitter bottles, anyway? When it comes to stocking up on bar cart staples, an eenie weenie bottle of bitters might not be the first thing you gravitate towards. But good things come in small packages, and as Alex Cuper, the beverage director of Chicago's El Che Steakhouse puts it: "Underberg may be the best-kept secret in after-dinner drinks." While only 20 milliliters in capacity, the miniature bottle is loaded with flavor. "It is one of the most ideal ways for me to round out an evening," he...