Herbal
Warm spice

Everyday Low

Angostura Bitters

Name: Angostura Bitters 200mL
SKU: 105852
Price: 41.99 NZD
Availability: InStock

Spirits · 200ml · 13%

$41.99each

What it tastes like

Aromatic bitters with a concentrated herbal and spice blend. Used to add flavour to classic cocktails.

Herbal
Warm spice

Additional information

Spirits
Style: 200ml
Size: 13% ABV
Alcohol: 0.2 per bottle
Standard drinks

The story of Angostura Bitters

Angostura aromatic bitters were first made in 1824 in the Venezuelan town of Angostura, now called Ciudad Bolívar, by a German doctor named Johann Siegert. He had moved to Venezuela in 1820 as surgeon general to Simón Bolívar's armies. After he died in 1870 his sons moved production to Port of Spain in Trinidad because of unrest in Venezuela, and by 1875 the business was settled there. The bitters are still made in Trinidad to the original formula.

Despite the name, there is no angostura bark in the bottle. The town gave the bitters their name. The flavour comes mainly from gentian along with herbs and spices, and the full recipe is a closely guarded secret. At 44.7% alcohol it is used a few dashes at a time. The label is far too big for the bottle, a quirk the company says began with a delivery of oversized labels that it chose to use anyway.

A couple of dashes are the backbone of an Old Fashioned, a Manhattan and a champagne cocktail. Pink gin is gin swirled with the bitters. It also goes into cooking, and in Trinidad it is used generously in both food and drink.