Key takeaways
- Adding too many dashes, which overwhelms the base spirit.
- Buying five specialty bottles before mastering two basics.
- Ignoring the difference between bitters and cocktail bitter liqueurs like Campari.
- Letting bitters sit near a sunny window or stove.
The best bitters to start a home bar are Angostura aromatic bitters and Peychaud’s bitters, which together cover the Old Fashioned, Manhattan, Sazerac, and dozens of other classics. Add an orange bitters such as Regans’ Orange Bitters No. 6 for Martinis and Negronis, and then expand with chocolate, cherry, or celery bitters once you know what you like. Bitters are used in drops and dashes, so one bottle lasts for months.
Our top picks
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Quick Comparison of the Best Bitters
| Pick | Best for | Flavor profile | Key cocktails | Price range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angostura Aromatic Bitters | Best overall | Clove, cinnamon, gentian, baking spice | Old Fashioned, Manhattan | Budget to mid-range |
| Peychaud’s Bitters | Best for New Orleans classics | Anise, cherry, floral | Sazerac, Vieux Carre | Budget to mid-range |
| Regans’ Orange Bitters No. 6 | Best orange bitters | Bitter orange peel, cardamom | Martini, Negroni twist | Mid-range |
| Angostura Orange Bitters | Best for sweeter orange notes | Orange peel, light spice | Old Fashioned variations | Mid-range |
| Fee Brothers Old Fashion Aromatic Bitters | Best budget aromatic alternative | Cinnamon, clove, mild bitter | Old Fashioned, hot toddy | Budget |
| Bittercube or Scrappy’s flavored bitters | Best for experimenting | Cherry bark, chocolate, lime, cardamom | Rum drinks, tiki, tequila | Mid-range to upper-mid |
Best Overall: Angostura Aromatic Bitters
Angostura aromatic bitters, made in Trinidad and Tobago and recognizable by the oversize paper label, are the standard bitters behind most classic recipes. Per the maker, the formula is a closely held secret, but the flavor leads with gentian, clove, and cinnamon. The bottle is labeled at about 44.7 percent alcohol by volume, so it behaves like a spirit when added in dashes. If you buy only one bottle, make it this one.
Trade-off: the dasher top delivers drops unevenly if you shake hard. Angostura is also strongly flavored, so too many dashes make a drink taste medicinal.
Best for New Orleans Classics: Peychaud’s Bitters
Peychaud’s is a red, anise-forward bitters created in New Orleans and essential for a Sazerac. Its flavor is lighter and more floral than Angostura and works well with rye, cognac, and sparkling wine cocktails. The bottle is labeled around 35 percent ABV. Trade-off: the anise note is divisive, so smell it before using it in an unfamiliar recipe.
Best Orange Bitters: Regans’ Orange Bitters No. 6
Regans’ is a dry, aromatic orange bitters that adds citrus peel brightness to Martinis, Gin Fizzes, and Negronis. It is often recommended in classic cocktail books for dry Martinis. Use 1-2 dashes in a gin drink to lift the botanicals. The trade-off is availability, since it is less widely stocked than Angostura.
Best for Sweeter Orange Notes: Angostura Orange Bitters
Angostura Orange has a sweeter, softer peel flavor than Regans’. It suits Old Fashioneds, Manhattans, and tequila drinks. If you are choosing between two orange bitters, pick Regans’ for gin and dry cocktails, and Angostura Orange for whiskey and sweeter drinks.
Best Budget Aromatic Alternative: Fee Brothers Old Fashion Aromatic
Fee Brothers, a family business from Rochester, New York, sells a lower-priced aromatic bitters with a milder spice character. It is a useful backup bottle for hot toddies and batch drinks where you use many dashes. It will not match Angostura’s depth in a stirred whiskey cocktail, but it is perfectly drinkable.
Best for Experimenting: Flavored Craft Bitters
Craft makers like Bittercube, Scrappy’s, and The Bitter Truth offer cherry, chocolate, lime, celery, and cardamom bitters. These can transform a basic recipe: chocolate bitters in a rum Old Fashioned, celery bitters in a gin Martini or Bloody Mary, and lime bitters in a Gimlet. They cost more per bottle and may require shelf space, so add one at a time.
How to Choose Bitters
Start With Two Bottles
Buy Angostura aromatic and one other: Peychaud’s if you like whiskey and New Orleans drinks, orange bitters if you drink gin and vodka. With these you can make the vast majority of classic recipes.
Worked Example: Cost per Cocktail
A standard 4-ounce Angostura bottle holds about 118 ml. A dash is roughly 1/32 ounce, or about 0.9 ml, though dashes vary by technique. At 2-3 dashes per drink, one bottle gives roughly 45-65 cocktails. Divide the price you paid by 50 to get a rough cost per drink; the number is usually a few cents, making bitters one of the cheapest flavor upgrades in a bar.
| Cocktail | Typical bitters | Dashes |
|---|---|---|
| Old Fashioned | Angostura aromatic | 2-3 |
| Manhattan | Angostura aromatic | 2 |
| Sazerac | Peychaud’s | 3-4 |
| Dry Martini | Orange bitters | 1-2 |
| Champagne cocktail | Angostura on a sugar cube | 2-3 |
| Pisco Sour | Angostura as aromatic float | 3-4 drops |
Bottle Format and Dasher
Some bitters come in bottles with a dasher cap that controls flow. Others, like some craft bitters, use dropper bottles. Dasher tops are faster for bartending, while droppers give precision. If your bottle leaks or pours too fast, transfer it to a labeled dasher bottle.
Storage and Shelf Life
Because of their high alcohol content, bitters keep for years. Store them away from heat and direct sun. Flavors can fade gradually over time, so smell older bottles before use and replace them if they smell stale.
Non-Alcoholic Considerations
Bitters contain alcohol, and while the amount used is tiny, some people avoid them. Alcohol-free bitters exist, but flavor and bitterness differ. Pregnant people, people taking medication, or anyone with health concerns should consult a healthcare professional.
Common Mistakes
- Adding too many dashes, which overwhelms the base spirit.
- Buying five specialty bottles before mastering two basics.
- Ignoring the difference between bitters and cocktail bitter liqueurs like Campari.
- Letting bitters sit near a sunny window or stove.
Decision Guide: Which Bitters Fit Your Bar?
| You mostly drink | Buy first | Add next |
|---|---|---|
| Bourbon and rye | Angostura aromatic | Peychaud’s, then chocolate bitters |
| Gin and vodka | Orange bitters | Angostura aromatic, then celery bitters |
| Rum and tiki | Angostura aromatic | Cardamom or cherry bark bitters |
| Tequila and mezcal | Angostura orange | Grapefruit or lime bitters |
| Mocktails and sodas | Angostura aromatic with soda water | Flavored bitters one at a time |
How to Taste and Use Bitters Well
Put one dash of a new bitters into a glass of soda water and smell it, then taste a small sip. This shows the spice, citrus, and bitterness without a spirit in the way. Next, try it in a simple drink like a whiskey highball. Keep notes on the number of dashes you used so you can repeat a drink exactly. Add bitters before the ice when stirring, and add a few drops on top of a foam or fizz for aroma. When a recipe says one dash, aim for a light shake from the dasher, about a tenth of a teaspoon at most.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are cocktail bitters?
Bitters are concentrated infusions of herbs, spices, bark, and fruit in alcohol, used in small amounts to add aroma and balance. They are measured in dashes, not ounces.
Which bitters should I buy first?
Angostura aromatic bitters. It works in more classic recipes than any other bottle, including the Old Fashioned and Manhattan.
Do bitters go bad?
Not in a way that makes them unsafe, because of the alcohol content. They can lose aroma over years, so replace them if the smell is flat.
Can I substitute one bitters for another?
Sometimes. Angostura and Fee Brothers aromatic are close enough to swap, but Peychaud’s and orange bitters change the drink noticeably. Start with a smaller amount and taste.
How many dashes are in a bottle?
A 4-ounce bottle typically provides several hundred dashes depending on technique. At 2-3 dashes per drink, it lasts dozens of cocktails.
