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Bitters

A rather curious drink, primarily used for adding flavour to cocktails, Bitters are a little like the salt and pepper of the cocktail world (as in the condiment and not the hip hop outfit).

Bitters are made with various bitter herbs, barks and other flavourings, with an alcoholic base (often rum). They are not intended for neat consumption, due to their very (and unsurprisingly) bitter flavour, but when added to an Old-Fashioned cocktail, or a Manhattan, they impart all sorts of complexity, bringing maturity and great depth.

Bitters started life, as did many of our favourite drinks, as a medicine. The famous Angostura bitters were created by Dr Johann Gottlieb Benjamin Siegert as a remedy for sea sickness and stomach ailments. The original recipe was named after the town of Angostura in Venezuela (and not after the bark from the tree of the same name – also named after the town).

Exports started to Trinidad (where the Angostura company is now based) and England. The Royal Navy (which was, at the time, an ardent promoter of some of the more beneficial qualities of alcohol) took to adding a few dashing of Angostura bitters to Gin, a concoction known as “Pink Gin”, which was said to placate tummy woes.

The list of ingredients used to make traditional bitters reads a little like a who’s who of archaic remedies: Angostura bark, cassia, gentian, even quinine (the favourite anti-malarial of the old colonists). Bitters are simply made by macerating a bitter agent (often one or more of the above mentioned barks), and a selection of other herbs and spices in strong spirit.

Did you know?... ...In Trinidad and Tobago, Angostura bitters are often added to coffee – well worth trying!

Best Seller

Ms. Better's Miraculous Foamer

12cl, 40%
Ms. Better's

From the Ms. Better's range comes their Miraculous Foamer. Rather than adding eggs to your cocktail to make them foamy, simply add a third of a dropper Miraculous Foamer – it's suitable for vegans,…  More info

Ms. Better's Miraculous Foamer
12
£22.99

Bob’s Ginger Bitters

10cl, 35%
Bob's Bitters

Ginger Bitters from the Bob's Bitters range. Bob focuses more on single-botanical expressions rather than mixtures of ingredients, resulting in bitters which can let cocktails enthusiasts craft the…  More info

Bob’s Ginger Bitters
£14.95

Bob's Bitters - Difford's Margarita Bitters

10cl, 35%
Bob's Bitters

Bob (of Bob's Bitters) has teamed up with the Difford's Guide folks to create some particularly vibrant bitters to lift the flavour profile of the already rather vibrant Margarita cocktail! Featuring…  More info

Bob's Bitters - Difford's Margarita Bitters
£14.95

Bob’s Lavender Bitters

10cl, 35%
Bob's Bitters

Lavender Bitters from Bob's Bitters collection. Focussing on single botanicals rather than mixtures of ingredients, these allow for bartenders to craft the flavours of their cocktails accurately. The…  More info

Bob’s Lavender Bitters
£14.95

Bob’s Cardamon Bitters

10cl, 35%
Bob's Bitters

Some the Bob's range of single-botanical bitters range comes their Cardamom Bitters. Massive, authentic spice notes coming through with these, perfect for cocktails that need an intense boost of…  More info

Bob’s Cardamon Bitters
£14.95

Bob’s Orange & Mandarin Bitters

10cl, 35%
Bob's Bitters

These Orange & Mandarin Bitters from the Bob's Bitters range are just the thing if your cocktails need a juicy boost of citrus notes. Go on, add a few drops to your Old Fashioned...  More info

Bob’s Orange & Mandarin Bitters
£14.95

Bitter Bastards Juniper Bitters 10cl

10cl, 40%
Bitter Bastards

"More Juniper Bitters!", we hear you call. The Bitter Bastards folks are happy to oblige - presenting their Juniper Bitters, now available in 10cl bottles! These rapidly-macerated,…  More info

Bitter Bastards Juniper Bitters 10cl
£13.95

Fee Brothers Rhubarb Bitters

15cl, 4.5%
Fee Brothers

Very unusual indeed - Rhubarb bitters. Made by Fee Brothers, they have a complex medicinal, rhubarb flavour with hints of cherry.  More info

Fee Brothers Rhubarb Bitters
3
£13.93

Bob's Bitters - Difford's Daiquiri Bitters

10cl, 35%
Bob's Bitters

If you feel as passionately about Daiquiris as the folks at Difford's Guide, then we have great news! They teamed up with the clever team behind Bob's Bitters to create these special Daiquiri…  More info

Bob's Bitters - Difford's Daiquiri Bitters
1
£14.95

Fee Brothers Cherry Bitters

15cl, 4.8%
Fee Brothers

Here we have some stunning Cherry Bitters from Fee Brothers, combining a dash of distinctive cherry fruit sweetness alongside the usual bitter notes. Bitters like these were a classic ingredient in…  More info

Fee Brothers Cherry Bitters
2
£14.49
Best Seller

The Japanese Bitters - Umami

10cl, 27%
The Japanese Bitters

Umami is one of the five basic tastes, along with sweet, salty and all of that, and is generally described as savoury. For this expression from The Japanese Bitters range, Japanese botanicals,…  More info

The Japanese Bitters - Umami
£31.28

Bittermens Burlesque Bitters

15cl, 44%
Bittermens

These spicy bitters are aptly named - they are spicy, sweet and tart - truly burlesque! They were work well in cocktails featuring Amari, Gin, Tequila or Rum and are made using hibiscus, açai berry…  More info

Bittermens Burlesque Bitters
£17.45

Fee Brothers Black Walnut Bitters

15cl, 6.4%
Fee Brothers

Thanks to Fee Brothers, you can now enjoy the earthy, nutty taste of walnuts in your drinks without getting bits of shell stuck in your teeth. Their Black Walnut Bitters can add some sweet, mildly…  More info

Fee Brothers Black Walnut Bitters
£13.49
Best Seller Price Drop

The Bitter Truth Grapefruit Bitters

20cl, 44%
The Bitter Truth

These Grapefruit Bitters are excellent in drinks made with gin or other clear spirits. These are great in summertime favourites like a Daiquiri or a Gin and Tonic.  More info

The Bitter Truth Grapefruit Bitters
£19.20
£14.69

Bitter Bastards Manhattan Meta-Bitters

5cl, 38.4%
Bitter Bastards

Bitter Bastards Manhattan Meta-Bitters. Bet you can't say that 10 times really fast. These ingenious, rapidly-macerated, centrifugally-extracted bitters aren't just perfect for using in a…  More info

Bitter Bastards Manhattan Meta-Bitters
£16.95

Bob’s Chocolate Bitters

10cl, 35%
Bob's Bitters

Chocolate Bitters, you say? Yum, yum, yum... These come from the Bob's Bitters range, which features a selection of single-botanicals bitters than make it easy to match their flavours with your…  More info

Bob’s Chocolate Bitters
£14.95

Fee Brothers Lime Bitters

15cl, 21.1%
Fee Brothers

How many cocktails benefit from a touch of lime? Many - that's how many. From Fee Brothers extensive and eclectic range comes Lime Bitters; ready-made to give that fresh, tangy citrus element that…  More info

Fee Brothers Lime Bitters
£12.99

Bob’s Abbotts Bitters 40%

10cl, 40%
Bob's Bitters

One upon a time, Abbotts Bitters were a vital tool in a mixologist's arsenal, though in the 1950s they stopped being produced. However, the recipe has been recreated for the Bob's Bitters range much…  More info

Bob’s Abbotts Bitters 40%
£20
Best Seller

Amargo Chuncho Bitters

8cl, 40%
Amargo Chuncho

The ultimate bitters for delicious Pisco sours, Chuncho bitters are made with Peruvian Quina and Sarrapia leaves as well as a variety of barks, roots, flowers, herbs and peels.  More info

Amargo Chuncho Bitters
£12.50

Bob’s Liquorice Bitters

10cl, 35%
Bob's Bitters

Vibrantly flavoursome Liquorice Bitters from the Bob's Bitters range. Focussing on the intense though subtly sweet flavours of liquorice, these bitters will pair well with all manner of gin-based…  More info

Bob’s Liquorice Bitters
£14.95
Best Seller

Bob’s Vanilla Bitters

10cl, 35%
Bob's Bitters

Rich, warming, delicious Vanilla Bitters from the Bob's Bitters range. Loads of authentic vanilla notes to be had here - just perfect for sweeter cocktails. These would also go great in mixed drinks…  More info

Bob’s Vanilla Bitters
£17

Bittermens Orange Cream Citrate Bitters

15cl, 44%
Bittermens

The Bittermens chaps over in the USA were inspired by cream sodas and phosphates you might find in soda shops of old for their Orange Cream Citrate Bitters, which are more intensely sour and sweet,…  More info

Bittermens Orange Cream Citrate Bitters
£17.80

Fee Brothers Gin Barrel-Aged Orange Bitters

15cl, 9%
Fee Brothers

You've heard of whisky barrel-aged orange bitter, but how about gin barrel-aged orange bitters? Fee Brothers have brought that dream to life, ageing their famous orange bitters for three to six…  More info

Fee Brothers Gin Barrel-Aged Orange Bitters
£20.65

The Japanese Bitters - Yuzu

10cl, 27%
The Japanese Bitters

The Japanese Bitters has taken the aromatic yuzu fruit and packed it all into these citrusy bitters! The yuzus are harvested in the Tokushima prefecture in southern Japan. It works surprisingly well…  More info

The Japanese Bitters - Yuzu
1
£29.95

Fee Brothers Grapefruit Bitters

15cl, 17%
Fee Brothers

These excellent grapefruit bitters from Fee Brothers work really well in cocktails with a tangy citrus element. They add a little extra spice and depth. Try them in your next Margarita or Sour…  More info

Fee Brothers Grapefruit Bitters
1
£14.99

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