Bitters are often said to be the ‘salt and pepper’ of the cocktail world, and it’s 100% true! Seasoning is incredibly important when it comes to cooking, so why shouldn’t it be when creating drinks? If you’ve been making the same cocktail recipes over and over but feel it’s missing just one touch on the palate - it might be missing bitters!
What are bitters?
But what are bitters? Bitters actually started life as a medicine, with Angostura being one of the first commercially available. They are a spirit that has been infused with very bitter ingredients (hence the name) such as tree bark, bitter herbs and many other flavourings. As they are so incredibly bitter, they are usually sold in small bottles with droppers, meaning you can drop them right into your cocktails!
If you want to step up your mixology game and be producing some top quality cocktails, bitters are the way to go. To help you out we’ve made a list of some bitters our resident mixologist, Aidy Smith, gives the seal of approval to:
Angostura Aromatic Bitters
Perhaps the most iconic bitters there are, the legendary Angostura Aromatic Bitters. These have been used far and wide to spruce up every cocktail you can think of. They’re particularly delicious in whisky cocktails such as a Whisky Sour or an Old Fashioned! Now time for the fun facts:
1) Angostura was originally created as a medicine by Dr Johann Gottlieb Benjamin Siegert, a surgeon in Venezuela but it has now ended up in all sorts of drinks! It was said to aid seasickness and stomach issues.
2) The oversized label that has now become a staple of all Angostura bottles started as an accident. When the founder passed down the brand to his sons for a rebrand, there was a mix up in label and bottle design meaning the label didn’t fit! This mix up ended up making Angostura stand out from the rest, and it continues to this day!
3) Only 5 people in the world know the recipe!
4) Pink gin was invented by dropping Angostura into gin as a medicine for the Navy (it’s always the Navy)!
ABV: 44.7%
Size: 20cl
Find it here: £13.10
Angostura Orange Bitters
Though the original bitters were released in 1824, it took Angostura 183 years to release an orange bitters. Even though its history is short, it’s still made an impact on the mixology world and is now one of the most popular orange bitters out there! It too features the oversized label and its blend of Caribbean orange peel, cinnamon, cardamom and cloves is delicious in a rum or whisky based cocktail!
ABV: 28%
Size: 10cl
Find it here: £13.80
Fee Brothers Black Walnut Bitters
Looking to add a nutty flavour to your cocktails but don’t want to have to blend some nuts and then worry about accidentally finding bits in your cocktail? Instead of worrying, try Fee Brothers Black Walnut Bitters! They’re a great way to make your cocktails just that bit more unique and add dimension.
ABV: 6.4%
Size: 15cl
Find it here: £14.18
Fee Brothers Aztec Chocolate Bitters
Fee Brothers are another brand that really knocks it out of the park with their bitters. Their flavours go on and on, but the two we had to include were the Black Walnut and this, the Aztec Chocolate. It’s been given the name Aztec Chocolate in honour of the Aztec people, who used to drink bitter hot chocolate (or hot cacao) made with caco, spices and peppers. Try these bitters with a rye whisky cocktail!
ABV: 2.6%
Size: 15cl
Find it here: £13.92
Bob’s Vanilla Bitters
Vanilla in a cocktail? Yum! This Vanilla Bitters is great for a sweeter cocktail, as the rich vanilla notes give it a beautiful creamy edge. Try this in a piña colada, or just a simple rum and coke!
ABV: 35%
Size: 10cl
Find it here: UK £17.55
Check out these cocktail recipes for further inspiration… The Most Popular Gin Cocktails, 10 Must-Try Martini Variations and The Best Cocktails to Make with Scotch Whisky.