The Best Bitters for Cocktails

Bitters are arguably the most magical of cocktail ingredients. Bitters for cocktails are very unassuming in their little bottles, but adding just a few dashes can completely transform a cocktail. Bitters are an essential ingredient in many cocktails, but you might not realize that there are several different types of bitters to choose from.

A well-stocked home bar will have at least a few different types of bitters, but which are the most deserving of a spot on your bartop (or kitchen cupboard)? We compared many different cocktail bitters brands to come up with this list of the best of the best to level up your cocktail recipes. 

Angostura bitters are the most popular of bitters, offering a wonderful fruity bouquet and just the right amount of spice. Practically every bar has a bottle of Angostura cocktail bitters on hand. One of the most popular classic cocktails made with Angostura bitters is an old-fashioned cocktail. 

Curious what the difference between an old-fashioned and a Manhattan is? Both are whiskey drinks, typically made with bourbon or rye whiskey. The difference is that an old-fashioned has sweetness and layers of flavor from bitters and a sugar cube. A Manhattan uses sweet vermouth instead of sugar and cocktail bitters. 

Peychaud’s Aromatic Cocktail Bitters are right up there with Angostura in popularity, although there are differences in the flavor notes and characteristics of each. Peychaud’s bitters taste slightly sweeter than Angostura, with a bright orange flavor and hints of cherry and licorice. 

Peychaud’s  Bitters are great in a spirit-forward cocktail and are an essential ingredient in the Sazerac cocktail. Peychaud’s is produced by the Sazerac Company in Kentucky. 

The Bitter Truth Old Time Bitters fall into a class of classic bitters. They offer notes of Ceylon cinnamon, clove, a few hints of cherry, and a bit of chocolate. Bitter Truth bitters go really well in cocktails with rich, dark liquors, such as rye whiskey and dark rum. 

Woodford Reserve Bitters are barrel-aged and just all-around good classic bitters if you want to expand your bitter repertoire beyond Angostura and Peychaud’s bitters. Some even argue that these are a contender for knocking those two out of the top spot. We like the more complex aromatic profile and just a hint of smokiness. 

Fee Brothers have the market mastered on flavored bitters. At last count, they had nineteen different flavors of bitters under their brand. If you want a solid introduction to Fee Brothers bitters, their Old Fashioned Bitters are the way to go. These bitters are highly aromatic and are created with herbals and botanicals from around the world. 

The second most popular variety of Angostura is their orange bitters. These offer an incredible depth of flavor, with orange peel from Caribbean oranges. Angostura Orange makes a nice addition to popular cocktails, including those with white spirits, such as gin, vodka, and tequila. 

Fee Brothers West Indian Orange Bitters offer a brilliant simplicity. If you don’t really care for the layers and layers of botanical flavors found in other cocktail bitters, this is a great option. The citrus flavor is so pure and bright that it complements most cocktails without changing the base flavors. While Angostura is often the choice for a pisco sour, we like to use these West Indian Orange Bitters instead. 

Regan’s Orange Bitters No. 6 are more straightforward with citrus notes than other bitters. Considering this is one of the newer bitters brands, we’re impressed with the smoothness and brightness of citrus fruits. We especially like Regan’s in various types of rum cocktails.  

Woodford Reserve Orange Bitters have a more mellow flavor than the other bitters listed here. These are a nice addition to light, refreshing cocktails and are one of the best bitters for non-alcoholic drinks. 

As mentioned earlier, Fee Brothers has the art of flavored bitters mastered. Grapefruit bitters are a nice change from traditional orange bitters. What’s delicious about this brand is that the grapefruit only highlights the other layers of botanicals. Add a few dashes of these to a certain cocktail, like a Paloma, and consider it your new secret star ingredient. 

Scrappy’s Bitters win hand down for using all-natural ingredients and a citrusy grapefruit taste. All the herbs and fruit used in these bitters are selected by Scrappy’s, and the fruit is zested by hand. All ingredients are organic, making this one of the best citrus bitters around. 

Bittemens Hopped Bitters are a standout with an unusual taste that easily becomes an obsession. The essence of grapefruit is combined with hops, which brings to mind a really good hoppy grapefruit beer. This is one of those novelty citrus bitters that every home bar should have. 

Woodford Reserve Chocolate Bitters combine the lusciousness of chocolate with barrel-aged hints of whiskey. We don’t necessarily think these are the best for a sweet chocolatey cocktail, but a few drops in a martini is fantastic. You can also skip the booze and add a couple of drops to your morning coffee instead. 

Strongwater Cacao Bitters are handcrafted using cacao nibs, along with the essence of cherry and vanilla. We might be imagining things, but we swear we detected a hint of star anise as well. Rich and decadent, these are great bitters to have on hand for holiday drinks and other special occasions. 

For chocolatey bitters that don’t mess around, the best bottle of bitters out there is Hella Cocktail Mexican Chocolate Bitters. There’s a bit of spice, just a little heat, and the flavor is bold. Add a couple of dashes of these, along with a dash or two of smoked chili bitters, to a boozy Mexican hot chocolate for a special treat. 

These celery bitters are the perfect blends of celery salt, citrus, and a bit of spice. These are great in savory cocktails, especially in a bloody mary enjoyed over a leisurely Sunday brunch. Keep a bottle of these on your bloody mary bar next to all the other garnishes. 

Scrappy’s Bitters makes it onto our list again, this time for their celery variety. The celery seed is pronounced and supported by hints of citrus. We really like this variety of bitters in gin cocktails, such as a gin martini or gin & tonic. For a more citrusy alternative to this, Scrappy’s also makes black lemon bitters that go equally well in the same types of cocktails.