- King Cocktail DeGroff recommends gin, grappa and whiskey to taste with a dash of his bitters. Dale DeGroff is King Cocktail. Probably no other cocktail expert, apart from Jerry Thomas, the co-founder of professional bartending, had as much influence into the upscale bar culture as Dale DeGroff.
- Bitters & Bottles is dedicated to craft spirits and cocktail supplies. Expertly curated selection, great prices, new items every week. Join VBP Rewards to earn.
The Manhattan cocktail has come along way since its debut back in the early 1870s. Its key component other than using a good Rye whisky like George Dickel Rye, is choosing the right Bitters. I had the pleasure of attending a Bitters Seminar with King Cocktail himself, Dale Degroff at Bosscat Kitchen and Libations in Newport Beach, CA.
Dale Degroff Pimento Bitters
Dale is a master mixologist who honed his skills by bartending many establishments, most notably the Rainbow Room in New York. We sampled five different kinds of Bitters before adding to the premixed Vermouth and George Dickel filled glasses. It was eye opening to smell and taste the differences each Bitters made from brand to brand.
Dale DeGroff’s Pimento Aromatic Bitters (45% ABV/ 90 proof, $9.99 per 150ml) is made from the pimento berry which is better known as allspice. Some may get confused with the name of these bitters and think that they are made from pimento, which is an entirely different thing from pimento berry.
Below you will find Dale DeGroff’s personal Manhattan recipe:
Ingredients:
- 1 oz. George Dickel Rye
- .25 oz. Dolin Dry Vermouth
- .25 oz. Martini Ross Sweet
- Dash of your Favorite Bitters
Directions: Stir and serve.
If you’re interested in learning more about Dale DeGroff and how to become a Master Bartender, check out his book: The Craft of the Cocktail.
Celebrated for being the first to revive the great 19th century classic cocktails made with simple fresh ingredients at the Rainbow Room in the 1990's, Dale DeGroff reinvented the bartending profession, setting off a cocktail revival that continues to this day. He is the winner of two James Beard Awards, the TOC Lifetime Achievement Award, and Wine Enthusiast's 2018 Cocktail Legend Award, among others.
A leading trainer and sought-after presenter in the beverage industry, DeGroff is a partner in the award winning Beverage Alcohol Resource (BAR) and author of The Craft of the Cocktail (Random House, 2002). Regarded as the ”essential bartending guide” by the New York Times, his book has influenced the entire hospitality industry. This past year DeGroff released his new updated edition, The New Craft of the Cocktail, a culmination of his forty years of expertise and a look at the innovators who have taken the craft cocktail movement to the next level.
Dale Degroff Book
DeGroff is also the founding President of The Museum of American Cocktails, now part of the National Food & Beverage Institute in New Orleans. The museum provides education in mixology and boasts one of the most eclectic collections of cocktail artifacts, books, and memorabilia in the world. After meeting renowned absinthe distiller,Ted Breaux in New Orleans, they embarked on a joint venture to produce Dale DeGroff’s Pimento Aromatic Bitters.
Dale Degroff Cocktails
A raconteur, storyteller, and saloon singer, DeGroff’s entertaining presentations are featured on the cruise lines as well as at spirits festivals around the country. He has given performances in over a hundred cities here in the US and overseas.