Bitters

·noun ·pl A liquor, generally spirituous in which a bitter herb, leaf, or root is steeped.

bitters
A liquid or spirituous liquor, containing an infusion of bitter herbs and roots.--Worcester. Bitter...

Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.
prairie-bitters
A beverage common among the hunters and mountaineers. It is made with a pint of water and a quarter ...

Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.