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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
$28.27

Regans' Orange Bitters No. 6

15cl, 45%
Regans'

Regans' Orange bitters - absolutely magical when used in an old-fashioned. A must-have for anyone making cocktails with any kind of whisky.  More info

Regans' Orange Bitters No. 6
2
$11.05

Droplets Tonka Bean

5cl, 0%
Droplets

Tonka beans have been a favourite of top chefs for years, and now you can add them with ease to your cocktails and cooking with these alcohol-free Droplets. Great with dark rum and tropical fruits so…  More info

Droplets Tonka Bean
$22.72

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
$18.38

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
$20.90

Ms. Better's Pineapple Star Anise Bitters

12cl, 40%
Ms. Better's

Juicy and full-bodied, Ms. Better's Pineapple Star Anise Bitters boast notes of grilled tropical fruits and a little spark of tongue-tantalising star anise. Rum cocktail-enthusiasts should very much…  More info

Ms. Better's Pineapple Star Anise Bitters
$27.84

The Bitter Truth Bogart's Bitters

35cl, 42.1%
The Bitter Truth

The Bitter Truth has created their own interpretation of the bitters called for by name by legendary bartender Jerry Thomas over 150 years ago in The Bar-Tender's Guide. After 10 years of research,…  More info

The Bitter Truth Bogart's Bitters
$35.93

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
$18.38

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
$18.38

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
$25.39
Best Seller

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
$18.38

Carpano Botanic Bitter

100cl, 25%
Carpano

The folks from Carpano have created their very own bitter aperitif, perfect for using in cocktails (like, y'know, the Negroni, perhaps...). It's made with a combination of 10 botanicals, including…  More info

Carpano Botanic Bitter
1
$22.79

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
$18.38

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
$18.38

Harry Howe’s Cocktail Foaming Elixir

10cl, 0%
Harry Howe's

This marvellous cocktail foamer from Harry Howe’s is just the thing if you're looking to add the perfect frothy head to your cocktails – without the use of egg whites. Perfect for Sours and the like,…  More info

Harry Howe’s Cocktail Foaming Elixir
$24.58

Fee Brothers Plum Bitters

15cl, 12%
Fee Brothers

Add a dose of dark fruit and spice to your cocktails with the Fee Brothers Plum Bitters. Ought to pair well with dark rums, we reckon.  More info

Fee Brothers Plum Bitters
$20.84

Bittermens Hellfire Habanero Bitters

15cl, 44%
Bittermens

Some very interesting cocktail bitters from Bittermens in America (we probably could say that about everything they come out with), their Hellfire Habanero Shrub Bitters are made with a classic…  More info

Bittermens Hellfire Habanero Bitters
1
$21.77

Bob’s Grapefruit Bitters

10cl, 32.7%
Bob's Bitters

Single botanical bitters from Bob's extensive range - grapefruit ones in this instance. As all good mixologists know 'bitters' shouldn't be treated as a single uniform ingredient any more than…  More info

Bob’s Grapefruit Bitters
$18.38

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
$20.84

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
$17.15

Ms. Betters Sumac Kiwi Bitters

12cl, 40%
Ms. Better's

Intriguing bitters from Ms. Betters in Vancouver - a fabulously aromatic combination of earthy sumac with sweet kiwi. We can only imagine the cocktails you folks will make with these...  More info

Ms. Betters Sumac Kiwi Bitters
$27.79
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
$15.37

Ms. Better's Smoke & Oak Bitters

12cl, 40%
Ms. Better's

Intriguing smokey bitters from Canada's Ms. Better's range, brilliant for use in rum and whisky cocktails. Impressive stuff.  More info

Ms. Better's Smoke & Oak Bitters
$27.91

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
$18.38

Bitter Bastards Black Truffle Bitters - Tuber Aestivum 10cl

10cl, 40%
Bitter Bastards

You're more likely to find black truffles in a busy kitchen than on a busy bar, but the Bitter Bastards Black Truffle Bitters can impart unique, mushroom-y, earthy notes to your cocktails. This 10cl…  More info

Bitter Bastards Black Truffle Bitters - Tuber Aestivum 10cl
$36.83

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