The most bitter spirits in the world

View this email in your browser Hello everyone, Of the five tastes, bitter usually gets the least love in the United States. Yet bitter liqueurs are central to the culture in Italy. There's even a saying for this: il dolce si conosce per l'amaro, or "we know sweetness because of bitter things." They're not alone. People are drinking extremely bitter liqueurs all around the world. We went on a quest to find the most shockingly bitter spirits and this is what we found. Elsewhere in the world, companies in the US are gearing up for Christmas. That means it's Christmas wine train season. In Korea, makgeolli is a cloudy, fizzy rice wine that has waxed and waned in popularity for centuries. It's about time you get familiar with the drink. Finally, if you're in Atlanta, don't sleep on the growing barbecue scene. And whatever you do, eat as much of The Silver Skillet's famous lemon icebox pie as you possibly can. Nickolaus Hines, food and drink editor SPIRITS + COCKTAILS These shockingly bitter spirits will make your toes curl Humans have five fundamental taste receptors: sweet, salty, sour, umami, and bitter. A perfectly balanced meal includes all of them, which is easy enough for the first four of those tastes. Understanding and appreciating bitter, however, is something we have to force ourselves to do. Test yourself with these most bitter of bitter spirits. DISCOVER BITTER SPIRITS LATEST ARTICLES NEWS Drink your way across Texas wine country on this Christmas wine train SPIRITS + COCKTAILS Everything to know about makgeolli, Korea's fizzy rice wine RESTAURANTS 8 can't-miss barbecue restaurants in Atlanta DESSERT This lemon icebox pie is the most famous pie in Atlanta FOOD + DRINK Antikristo is the Greek barbecue method you don't want to miss MATADOR CITY GUIDE TRIP PLANNING Where to eat in Atlanta You can count on one thing in Atlanta: You will not go hungry. The city's food scene has exploded in the last five to 10 years, with new innovative eateries popping up all the time as locals scramble to sample the latest flavor. Much like its transplant population, the eats here are ever evolving and diverse. Yes, you'll find Southern influences on menus (shrimp and grits, fried chicken, pimento cheese, etc.), but you'll also find restaurants inspired by the cuisines of France, Spain, Italy, Mexico, India, and Japan, not to mention plenty of farm-to-table contemporary American cuisine. Perhaps the best displays of the city's varied fare are at its popular food halls, Krog Street Market and Ponce City Market, where just about any craving can be satisfied. Thanks to the popularity of the Atlanta Eastside Beltline Trail, a new rails-to-trails walking/biking path, much restaurant development has been focused in the Old Fourth Ward and Inman Park neighborhoods, where diners can use the path to bounce from one spot to another. That's not to say the rest of the city isn't worth exploring for food. The whole city is dense with exceptional restaurants, not to mention shops, art galleries, cocktail bars, and pubs, so pick a food spot that sounds delicious and then explore the area around it. EXPLORE ATLANTA FOOD ADVENTURE Operation Skate Tijuana When GRLSWIRL, a female skate community, brings 100 skateboards to migrant refugee children in Tijuana, the harsh reality pauses for a little while and kids get to be kids again. WATCH THE FILM FOLLOW US AND FIND YOUR NEXT #TRAVELSTOKE Copyright © 2019 Matador Network, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website. Our mailing address is: Matador Network PO Box 7775 #40021 San Francisco, CA 94120 Add us to your address book Need to change something? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from our newsletter. We'll be here when you need us!