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If you drink cocktails like Manhattans and Old Fashioned, you probably know about bitters.

But do you?

Really?

Yes, they’re a fun, interesting way to flavor a drink. But the fact is, bitters harken back to the ancient days when the word “apothecary” was in common use. The highly-concentrated, liquid extractions of seeds, herbs, flowers, bark, leaves and fruit of different plants were considered healing agents, crucial to help cleanse the body of toxins.

Historic Angostura bitters will inspire stories at the 2016 Hawai‘i Food & Wine Festival’s mixology event, “Scandal!” at The Westin KOR on Oct. 15. Photo by Kiaora Bohlool.

As far as exactly what a particular bitter is made from? Well, that is serious business. So serious, in fact, that for the esteemed Angostura bitters, there are apparently only four people in the world who each know a certain piece of the recipe, and they’re never allowed to be in the same room at the same time…in case of a death threat!

That little sip of history is brought to you by Aaron Alcala-Mosley, lead mixologist at Luana Bar, Fairmont Kea Lani in Wailea. He’ll be sharing many more such stories during “Scandal! The Dark and Stormy Underbelly of Cocktails” on Saturday, October 15 at The Westin Kā‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas  At the event, which is part of the Hawai’i Food & Wine Festival, Alcala-Mosley and his counterpart Jen Ackrill, Director of Mixology for Sky and Top of Waikiki, will share some of the greatest alcohol-related scandals of modern times.

You’ll uncover the story of how one rum company took down a beloved New York tiki destination while imbibing on its namesake cocktail. Learn about 2014’s LIMEGATE and how bartenders outsmarted a Mexican drug cartel. Discover why the Dark & Stormy drink you’ll make during the do-it-youself interactive segment may be technically against the law! Join in the scandal and reserve your seat through the Hawai’i Food & Wine Festival’s website. The session runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on October 15 at The Westin Kā‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas, and tickets cost $75 per person.

Along with four creatively-crafted drinks, including one you make yourself, there will be a light lunch, prepared by Executive Chef Francois Milliet of The Westin Kā‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas.

This is one of several Maui dining events for the 2016 Hawai’i Food & Wine Festival, happening between Friday, October 14 and Sunday, October 16. The Valley Isle is the festival’s first stop; events are also happening on the Big Island of Hawai’i and O’ahu through the end of October.