Scrappy’s Black Lemon Bitters
Scrappy’s Black Lemon Bitters — 49% ABV, 5oz — are handcrafted in small batches in Seattle, Washington from fresh peels of organic Eureka and Lisbon lemons. The name nods to black lemon — the Middle Eastern dried-lime spice (a mistranslation from Arabic that stuck) — and the bitters capture its spirit: bright fresh lemon layered with the floral bouquet of dried, fermented citrus, earthy spice, and a smoky tinge. Made with organic ingredients and no extracts, artificial flavors, chemicals, or dyes. Order online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 49%
- Size: 5oz (148mL)
- Botanicals: Fresh peels of organic Eureka and Lisbon lemons; inspired by Middle Eastern black lemon (dried lime) spice
- Profile: Bright lemon, floral, earthy, with a smoky-tinged citrus depth
- Craft: Handcrafted in small batches in Seattle, WA — organic ingredients, no extracts or artificial flavors
- Origin: Scrappy's Bitters, Seattle, Washington
What Is Black Lemon? A Spice, a Mistranslation, a Bitters
"Black lemon" was a mistranslation from Arabic that became the English name for dried limes — the smoky, earthy, deeply citrusy spice at the heart of Middle Eastern cooking. Scrappy's Black Lemon bitters chase that same duality with fresh Eureka and Lisbon lemon peels: the brightness of fresh citrus over the floral, almost fermented depth of dried citrus, finished with earthy spice. It's the most complex citrus bitters in the lineup — lemon with shadows. Round out your shelf in the bitters collection and browse every Scrappy's flavor.
Tasting Notes
Bright lemon oil up front, then the intrigue: floral notes like dried citrus blossom, earthy spice underneath, and a faint smoky tinge on the finish. More dimensional than straight lemon — citrus with a past.
How to Enjoy
Two to three dashes. Try it in a Watermelon Old Fashioned (brandy, watermelon), a rye-and-blueberry Baby Blue And Basil, or a gin build like Building Bridges (bianca amaro, Cocchi Rosa, thyme). It even works in cognac — As The Stars Danced Above pairs it with amaro bianco.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is black lemon bitters?
Bitters inspired by black lemon — the Middle Eastern dried-lime spice. Scrappy's version blends fresh Eureka and Lisbon lemon peels to capture both bright citrus and the floral, earthy depth of dried, fermented citrus.
What cocktails use black lemon bitters?
Old Fashioned riffs (try the Watermelon Old Fashioned), gin cocktails (Building Bridges, Diamond Hands), rye drinks (Baby Blue And Basil), and even cognac builds like As The Stars Danced Above.
Is black lemon bitters citrusy or earthy?
Both — that's the point. Bright lemon leads, but earthy spice and a smoky tinge give it a depth that straight citrus bitters don't have.
Citrus with shadows — order Scrappy’s Black Lemon Bitters online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.