many people mix the ES in juice. I never found this covered the bitterness enough. My trick is the mix the 4 TBS in ONE cup of water so that each dose is 1/4 cup of liquid. Then I drink plain water to make up the 1/2 cup of water missing. I also eat a small piece of candied ginger and rinse my mouth well but the main trick is only drinking a 1/4 cup of foul bitterness. One swallow and it's done. I found it was the having to swallow severl times or how much it filled my mouth that grossed me out the most. I've never done it but doing the same 1/4 cup doses mixed with apple juice to combine the tricks would help too.
some put the ES in capsules. I personally don't like the idea of the undisolved ES hitting my stomach but many people have had success.