Lemon, lime and bitters explained

Lemon, lime and bitters
Type:Mocktail
Served:Straight up or with ice
Garnish:Slice of lemon or lime
Drinkware:highball
Ingredients:
  • Lemonade
  • Lime juice cordial (aka sweetened lime juice)
  • Bitters
Prep:Rim the inside (and optionally outside) of the glass with 4 to 5 dashes of Angostura Bitters then pour lemonade and lime cordial (15–30 mL) into glass. Garnish with Lemon if desired. Has 0.2% alcohol. Angostura LLB is available in cans as well in a pre-mixed version.

Lemon, lime and bitters (LLB) is a mixed drink made with clear lemonade, lime cordial, and bitters. The drink may have been invented in Australia as late as the 1880s with the addition of lime to lemonade and bitters, an existing home remedy drink.[1] Today it has been described by the national broadcaster as "Australia's national drink" due to its ubiquity on restaurant menus and availability as a pre-mixed beverage.

It was served as a non-alcoholic alternative to "Pink Gin" (gin mixed with Angostura bitters).[2]

History

The exact origin of lemon, lime and bitters is unknown, however it is claimed to have been invented and popularized within Australia sometime around 1880.[3] Consequently, LLB is commonly consumed in Australia and New Zealand where it became customary for golf players to have a drink of LLB after a match of golf.[4]

It is made to order in most bars but a pre-mixed version is made by a number of soft drink companies and is widely available in supermarkets.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 1872 Lemonade and bitters recommended to MPs . Australian Food Timeline.
  2. News: Kriewaldt . Kit . The curious origins of the lemon, lime and bitters, Australia's national drink . 8 December 2018 . ABC News . 8 December 2018 . en-AU.
  3. Web site: Why 'Australia's national drink' is not entirely Australian. 2021-12-22. SBS Your Language. en.
  4. Web site: Angostura Bitters - Lemon/Lime/Bitters . 2008-01-06 . dead . https://archive.today/20070812184812/http://www.angosturabitters.com/llb.htm . 12 August 2007 . dmy-all .