Top 20 Bitters
To help you find the perfect bitters for your cocktail, we sifted and sipped our way through the overcrowded crush of potent potables available right now.
Here are the top 20 tinctures out there, the flavors each bottle boasts and the drinks they boost best.
Bittermens Hellfire Habanero Shrub
Habanero, vinegar, boozy > Dark & Stormy and anything that calls for hot sauce
Dutch’s Spirits Boomtown Cocktail Bitters
Sarsaparilla, wintergreen, coconut > Death In the Afternoon and Whiskey & Soda
Peychaud’s
Anise, citrus, floral > Sazerac
Bitter Tears Ms. Piggy Peppercorn Bacon
Bacon, black pepper, jalapeño > Bourbon on ice and Bloody Mary
Regans’ Orange Bitters No. 6
Orange, candy orange > Daiquiri and Aperol Spritz
Bar Keep Fennel Organic Aromatic Bitters
Fennel, barnyard, earthy > Whiskey Sour and Vodka & Tonic
Bitter End Mexican Mole Bitters
Chocolate, peppers, spicy > Tequila and mezcal cocktails, and Mexican hot chocolate
Scrappy’s Bitters Lavender
Lavender, grape, bright > Vodka & Soda
Angostura Aromatic Bitters
Licorice, burnt sugar, herbal > A mixer fixer: Evens out drinks that are made too sweet, too bitter or too strong
Bob’s Bitters Coriander
Coriander, juniper > Campari & Soda Spicy, black tea, green pepper > Bloody Mary and Blood & Sand
Bad Dog Barcraft Fire & Damnation Bitters
Spicy, black tea, green pepper > Bloody Mary and Blood & Sand
Bitter End Thai Bitters
Lemon, lemongrass, coriander > Gin Martini and Champagne cocktails
Bittermens Hopped Grapefruit Bitters
Grapefruit, hops > Gimlet and Gin & Tonic
Dutch’s Spirits Colonial Cocktail Bitters
Chamomile, sandalwood, cinnamon > Manhattan and stirred whiskey drinks
The Dead Rabbit Orinoco Bitters
Cardamom, raisin, molasses, floral > Old Fashioned and rum cocktails
Bitters, Old Men Papaya Bitters
Banana, papaya, pineapple > Vodka Martini and frozen tropical drinks
Berg & Hauck’s Original Celery Bitters
Celery, lovage, earthy > Pimm’s Cup and Tom Collins
Miracle Mile Bitters Co. Orange Bitters
Orange, lemon, white pepper > Negroni and Cosmopolitan
Miracle Mile Bitters Co. Yuzu Bitters
Yuzu, green tea, umami > Margarita and lager beer
Dram Colorado Herbal Bitters
Black currant, walnut, cardamom > Coffee cocktails
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