A Georgian Bitters Dispenser

Description

Heading : A bitters dispenser
Period : George III
Date : 1780 – 1820 
Origin : England 
Colour : Clear
Neck : Slice cut
Body : Engraved with ‘BITTERS’ set within a foliate border with printie cuts below 
Glass Type : Lead
Size : 199mm tall with a base at 86mm in diameter   
Condition : Fine; a couple of tiny fleabites on the edges of the neck facets; one or two bubble inclusions to the body and base and a very shallow flake on the underside of the base rim; mossing to the base.
Restoration : The cork. as you would anticipate. is new
Weight : 576 grams

Additional information

Nowadays in Britain we tend to associate bitters with pink gin and cocktails. In the 18th and 19th century these herbal. fermented concoctions were added to fortified wines to introduce some balance. Port. Canary wine. Madeira. Sack. Moscatel. Sherry. Marsala…all were  tooth-achingly sweet in their unadulterated state. The addition of quinine bitters both dialled down this sweetness. and acted as a preventative against malaria.

Bitters in Roman times were exclusively medicinal. however. many countries have subsequently developed them along more edifying lines. German kummerling (or just kummel). the now fashionable Jagermeister. the hair of the dog that is Underberg. Swiss Suze. Dutch Beerenberg. Fernet Branca and Aperol from Italy are all “bitters” and are mostly used as an aperitif.

In Normandy. France I was introduced to Picon. a delicious bitters that is drunk with beer. This is very definitely worth seeking out.