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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!

Bittermens Winter Melon

15cl, 45%
Bittermens

Perhaps more commonly known for bringing a cooling balance to Cantonese dishes, here Bittermens blends winter melon with cucumber and nine additional botanicals to bring balance and a welcome lift to…  More info

Bittermens Winter Melon
£17.40

Bitter Bastards Angelica Bitters 10cl

10cl, 50%
Bitter Bastards

These Bitter Bastards Angelica Bitters will be absolutely smashing in a gin cocktail where you're looking to pick out the herbaceous but slightly bittersweet notes of the aforementioned biennial and…  More info

Bitter Bastards Angelica Bitters 10cl
£13.95

Bitter Bastards Liquorice Bitters (10cl)

10cl, 40%
Bitter Bastards

Add some richly herbaceous hints of liquorice root to your cocktails with these Bitter Bastards Liquorice Bitters! Produced using rapid-maceration techniques to avoid any unsightly flavours and…  More info

Bitter Bastards Liquorice Bitters (10cl)
£13.95

The Bitter Truth Creole Bitters

20cl, 39%
The Bitter Truth

Stunning Creole bitters from the Bitter Truth. Creole Bitters reflects the intense, rich style of good from Louisiana, vaguely similar to Cajun food, which sprung from meeting of many cultures…  More info

The Bitter Truth Creole Bitters
£14.49

Ms. Better's Grapefruit Bitters

12cl, 40%
Ms. Better's

Zesty grapefruit-flavoured bitters from Vancouver-based producer, Ms. Better's. Great in refreshing cocktails, and the name is a rather good tongue twister, too.  More info

Ms. Better's Grapefruit Bitters
£20.99

Scrappy's Lime Bitters

15cl, 47.5%
Scrappy's Bitters

Spectacular Lime Bitters from Scrappy's Bitters range, made with organic limes. Should be great in a cocktail, and ought to be rather handy when making guacamole, too.  More info

Scrappy's Lime Bitters
£19.95

Dashfire Star Anise Bitters

10cl, 38%
Dashfire

Dashfire Bitters creator Lee Egbert has previously lived in China for a year and a half, and also travelled extensively in Thailand, Malaysia, India, Sri Lanka, Morocco, Spain, Portugal, Italy,…  More info

Dashfire Star Anise Bitters
£12.99

Bitter Queens Chinese 5-Spice Bitters

10cl, 50%
Bitter Queens

Check out this Chinese 5-Spice Bitters from Bitter Queens! With spicy pepper, star anise, and a warming, bitter profile, it'll add an interesting layer to all manner of cocktails. Ideal if you're…  More info

Bitter Queens Chinese 5-Spice Bitters
£21.95

Bitter Bastards Curaçao Bitters

5cl, 75%
Bitter Bastards

Using the peel of the small, green and rather bitter oranges you find on the Island of Curaçao, the Bitter Bastards Curaçao Bitters are supremely zesty. With carefully measured amounts of bittering…  More info

Bitter Bastards Curaçao Bitters
£9.95

Bitter Bastards White Truffle Bitters - Tuber Borchii 10cl

10cl, 40%
Bitter Bastards

A 10cl bottle of White Truffle Bitters from the innovative Bitter Bastards range, made with Tuber Borchii or 'bianchetto' truffles. Add intriguing, subtly savoury, herbaceous notes to your cocktails…  More info

Bitter Bastards White Truffle Bitters - Tuber Borchii 10cl
£29.95

Dashfire Cardamom Bitters

10cl, 38%
Dashfire

Another effort from Dashfire’s unique and varied line of tinctures, handcrafted in small batches in St. Paul, Minnesota. This release uses the power-pod of intense aromatic flavour that is cardamom…  More info

Dashfire Cardamom Bitters
£12.33

Bittered Sling Plum & Rootbeer Bitters

12cl, 40%
Bittered Sling

Delicious Canadian bitters made by chef Jonathan Chovancek and mixologist/sommelier Lauren Mote. This plum and rootbeer blend does exactly what it says on the tin: a balance of sweet and savoury that…  More info

Bittered Sling Plum & Rootbeer Bitters
3
£20.86

Bittered Sling Malagasy Chocolate Bitters

12cl, 40%
Bittered Sling

Intriguing Canadian bitters made with Malagasy cocoa beans all the way from Madagascar! Dry, aromatic and slightly smoky, these bitters work incredibly in oak-aged spirits, mezcals and vermouths.  More info

Bittered Sling Malagasy Chocolate Bitters
1
£20.86

Bitter Bastards Gentian Bitters 10cl

10cl, 40%
Bitter Bastards

While you may often find gentian being used as a bittering agent alongside other ingredients, this bitters gentian centre stage! This is a 10cl bottle of Bitter Bastards Gentian Bitters, made using…  More info

Bitter Bastards Gentian Bitters 10cl
£13.95

Bitter Fusetti Nature

70cl, 25%
Bitter Fusetti

A special edition of Bitter Fusetti, the Nature expression drops the classic deep red and is made without any food colourings. You can still find a classic base of rhubarb, citrus and cinchona,…  More info

Bitter Fusetti Nature
£30.94

Droplets Fresh Cut Celery

5cl, 0%
Droplets

Freshly cut celery Droplets from Javier de las Muelas, which can be used like bitters in cocktails as well as in in other drinks and cooking. They contain no alcohol and are 100% natural. Try a few…  More info

Droplets Fresh Cut Celery
£19.50

Dr Adam Elmegirab's Winter Spiced Bitters

10cl, 43%
Dr. Adam Elmegirab

A marvellous creation from Dr Adam Elmegirab. The Winter Spiced Bitters boast a whole stocking full of delicious festival flavours, perfect for jazzing-up any cockle-warming tipples when the weather…  More info

Dr Adam Elmegirab's Winter Spiced Bitters
2
£8.72

Bitter Queens Chocolate Walnut Bitters

10cl, 50%
Bitter Queens

Ideal for making an array of warming, comforting tipples, these Chocolate Walnut Bitters from Bitter Queens are reminiscent of freshly baked cookies. With roasty notes of coffee, vanilla, cacao, and…  More info

Bitter Queens Chocolate Walnut Bitters
£21.95

Bittered Sling Moondog Latin Bitters

12cl, 40%
Bittered Sling

An original concoction from chef Jonathan Chovancek and sommelier Lauren Mote, Moondog is bursting with spicy, smoky flavours, set to liven up all kinds of drinks made with oak-matured spirits. Give…  More info

Bittered Sling Moondog Latin Bitters
3
£20.86

Bittered Sling Kensington Aromatic Bitters

12cl, 40%
Bittered Sling

The latest brilliant bitters instalment from foodie/boozy Canadian duo Jonathan Chovancek and Lauren Mote, Bittered Sling’s Kensington Aromatic is amped up with resinous spice, rooty and citrus…  More info

Bittered Sling Kensington Aromatic Bitters
4
£20.86

Ms. Better's Cucumber Bitters

12cl, 40%
Ms. Better's

Rather intriguing cocktail bitters from the Ms. Better's range, produced in Vancouver, Canada. These will add a vegetal and refreshing (though enjoyably bitter) hint of freshly sliced cucumber to…  More info

Ms. Better's Cucumber Bitters
£19.57
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Peychaud's Bitters

15cl, 35%
Sazerac

Peychaud’s aromatic cocktail bitters are made using a predominance of distinctive cloves with hefty liquorice notes, first crafted in 1793. They’ve stood the test of time and are a great…  More info

Peychaud's Bitters
3
£9.99
£7.99

Droplets Fresh Ginger

5cl, 0%
Droplets

Javier de las Muelas' Droplets provide a way of adding consistent quantities of fresh ginger to drinks and food. They're made without alcohol from natural ingredients.  More info

Droplets Fresh Ginger
£23.56

Fee Brothers Mint Bitters

15cl, 35.8%
Fee Brothers

Very well made mint bitters from Fee Brothers. The flavour is so authentic and rich, just a dash to a mojito or rum cocktail and you'll bring out a world of new flavours.  More info

Fee Brothers Mint Bitters
1
£15.50
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Copperhead Blends Aperitivum

5cl, 76%
Copperhead

The Copperhead Blends range helps you get the most out of this Belgian Gin and the different times you may wish to enjoy it. Aperitivum contains palate-cleansing angelica and grapefruit, perfect for…  More info

Copperhead Blends Aperitivum
2
£11.47

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