Chiu on This: Bitter Kas

October 25, 2005

Bitter Kas

Here's another contribution from my West Coast pal and eater extraordinaire, r. yu. He sent it two weeks ago, and look how long it took me to post it...sigh. (Check for rob's reviews from Beijing in the upcoming month.)

When Tracy and I visited Spain a few years ago, I came across a soda called Bitter Kas. The drink is well-named: Bitter Kas is in fact very bitter, but unlike tonic water, the flavor has an added dimension which defies description (by me, at least). "Turpentine-like" or "pine resiney" seems to best convey the taste. From what I can tell, the drink has an enthusiastic following in Spain; perhaps it would have a more international fan base if it were distributed outside of Spain. Or perhaps not.

Recently, a friend returned from Barcelona. Having remembered my descriptions of Bitter Kas, he brought back a bottle for me. I was surprised to discover that Bitter Kas is a Pepsi Co product. The tinge was a bit redder than I remember, but it certainly tasted the same: quinine...tincture of pine needle... Would it mix well with vodka? Is "Kas" an English-Spanish cognate for "gas(oline)"? Bitter Kas is something I could possibly grow to like--if only the 7-11 carried it.

I wonder if this tastes like high-octane Campari. Also, but this may be a completely manufactured memory, I seem to recall drinking an excessively bitter drink at the end of the World of Coca-Cola "museum" in Atlanta. As I sampled just about every soda they had, to the point of making myself ill, it's no wonder I can't remember what I ingested. Never mind.

October 25, 2005 in Beverages | Permalink

Comments

Your coke drink may have been Mare Rosso (also sold pretty much only in Spain and of a similar reddish color to the Kas drink) which is the Coke company's answer to Pepsi's Kas Bitter

Posted by: Andrew | July 22, 2006 at 03:27 AM

I am a great fan of the bitter Kas and it was originally sold as a mixer for drinks but the y offer it as a alternative to sprite o coke, I wish I knew where to buy it in the states

Posted by: gabe | November 30, 2006 at 06:52 PM

Hi, I love Bitter KAS too.
I am now trying to make my "not stirred" version :D
KAS is the name of the former bottler, before being bought by pepsico. It's not a true word, it just sounded well in the fifties, when it was created in Spain.

Posted by: Raul | January 12, 2007 at 10:18 PM

Wow... I had to ask a friend of mine in Spain because I could not remember the name of my favorite soda growing up...
I was born and raised in Mallorca, beautiful Island. And I was remembering my younger years.. hahahah i am only 25... anywho... and after i was reminded of the name Bitter Kas... i googles it!! like the blog!
Can i buy some Bitter Kas?

Posted by: Alia | January 30, 2007 at 08:35 AM

Hi, again.

It does mix well with vodka, since vodka mix well with everything. But I don´t like the smell of vodka (they say it is odorless but I swear it smells like cologne for babies O_O ) and just tasting a Bitter Kas with octanes is not that fun.

I liked 63 ml of gin, 126 ml of BKas and an orange slice on the rocks :D.

As far as I know, Alia, you would have to go back to Mallorca to get one.

Posted by: Raul | February 13, 2007 at 08:58 PM

I am a big fan of Bitter Kas and, since I am spanish, I can have as much as I want. Are you suggesting that I should start a business to export this marvelous beverage?

Posted by: Ponzonha | March 30, 2007 at 03:31 AM

I just got back from my latest visit to Spain (Catalunya area)and had my semi yearly dose of Bitter Kas. I am also a big fan and have tried over the years to find a source here. So, yes, Raul, There is an opportunity for a business venture.

Posted by: kathy kirch | April 12, 2007 at 04:36 PM

I lived in Spain for 16 mos and discovered that Bitter Kas mixed with Fanta Lemon is the greatest thirst quencher of all time. I wouldn't drink the bitter alone, but with the Fanta...Oh yeah!

Posted by: Dalan | July 14, 2007 at 12:34 AM

I am an English fan of this fab drink and so is the rest of my family. we can't get it here either.A French soda called Venezio tastes simular and is not as far to drive for me here in the UK

Posted by: Alan | September 22, 2007 at 10:54 AM