What Are Cocktail Bitters, Exactly? Mixologists Answer

Some cocktail trends come and go. Remember Burrata Water and the Dirty Shirley? Or how about that month when everyone was adding Parmesan to their espresso martinis?

Other classic cocktails and best practices are timeless. Case in point: A zippy Mojito that’s so refreshing, your feet practically feel like they’re back in the sand. A bubbly and festive Kir Royale. A Martini so well made that all of the James Bonds would approve.

Several of our favorite classic and current mixed drinks share an ingredient that nearly all professional mixologists swear by, but very few home bar carts include: bitters. 

In case you’re unfamiliar with this ingredient and its value, we tapped several mixology experts from across the country to answer “what are bitters?” and to help demystify what are bitters made of, the best styles to stock at home, and how to use them to add that “special something” to your next round of drinks.

What Are Bitters?

Cocktail bitters are concentrated, aromatic tinctures made by infusing herbs, spices, fruits, or other botanicals into a base liquid. Traditionally, bitters involve a high-proof neutral spirit as the foundation, such as vodka, however some modern-day versions are made with food-grade glycerin instead so that zero-proof aficionados can also enjoy the benefits, says Aaron Wood-Snyderman, beverage director at Four Seasons Resort Maui. (Check out DRAM Apothecary for five flavors of spirit-free bitters that you can order and add to your home bar.)

So what are bitters used for? 

“Small quantities of bitters can enhance the flavor profile of cocktails, adding depth, complexity, and a subtle bitterness,” explains Milosz Cieslak, beverage director at Grandmaster Recorders and E.P. & L.P. in Hollywood, California. 

They’re also often employed to balance out or accentuate certain elements in a recipe. Think of a supply of various flavors of bitters like a spice rack or condiment shelf for your drinks. By itself, something like Worcestershire sauce or a teaspoon of cayenne pepper would be quite unpleasant to taste. 

“Bitters can bring out nuanced flavors that are typically lost in an ‘unseasoned’ cocktail,” says Mike Brown, hospitality leader at Journeyman Distillery in Valparaiso, Indiana.

The Benefits of Cocktail Bitters

In addition to adding complexity, depth, and balance to a cocktail, “bitters are used to aid in digestion, reduce inflammation, and calm upset stomachs and nausea,” adds Liz Davar, corporate beverage director at L’antica Pizzeria da Michele Hollywood in Los Angeles, California.

Bitters and soda is a go-to hangover remedy for mixologists around the globe, Wood-Snyderman admits, and it’s also a savvy after-dinner drink order whether you enjoyed cocktails with your meal or not. The “recipe” doesn’t even really require one; simply stir together 4 ounces of soda water with 3 dashes of bitters. Serve over ice with a lemon wedge. 

Instead of ordering a caffeinated coffee or a digestif like amaro or port that will add even more alcohol to your system, capping off a meal with a beverage that has trace amounts of booze (about 0.03 percent ABV)—and potentially a bit of digestive support—is a smart move.

RELATED: Cocktail Basics You Need to Know to Be an At-Home Mixologist 

The Most Common Types of Bitters

Every cocktail bitter has a different flavor profile, and there are thousands on the market. You can also make your own bitters (more on that shortly) to customize your tincture. 

A great place to start, the mixologists we spoke to agree, is with this trio:

• Angostura bitters exude warm baking spice elements, and pack a distinct medicinal herb note as well. They’re commonly used in cocktails like a Manhattan, Old Fashioned, Martinez, Champagne Cocktail, and Trinidad Especial.
• Buy It: $11, Target
• Peychaud's bitters are citrusy, fruity, and spicy, with notes of clove, orange, mint, cherry, and anise. Recipes for Sazeracs, Paper Planes, Vieux Carrés, and Mai Tais often call for this kind of bitters.
• Buy It: $17, Amazon
• Orange bitters introduce orange zest notes, naturally, along with hints of cardamom, anise, caraway seed and other spicy and warm flavors. You may have tried them already in Negronis and Black Manhattans.
• Buy It: $10, Watkins

 Other fruit, nut, herb, and aromatic bitters are also available.

How to Use Cocktail Bitters

The most important factor to remember when using aromatic bitters is that a little goes a long way. Most cocktail recipes don’t call for more than 1 to 3 dashes of bitters, according to Wood-Snyderman.

Similar to how a ½ cup of cinnamon would ruin your pumpkin pie, too much bitters can take a very good thing and make it a, well, bitter experience.

“Beyond using them in cocktails, bitters can also be used for cooking,” says Alex Barbatsis, bar director at The Whistler in Chicago, Illinois. “I recommend adding a couple of dashes of Angostura bitters in your next batch of cookies.” (We’ve also tried—and adored—a few dashes in marinades, hot chocolate, vinaigrette salad dressings, and barbecue sauce recipes.)

RELATED: Why More and More People Are Sticking to Low-Proof Alcohols 

How to Make Bitters at Home

As you saw above, you can easily purchase cocktail bitters online or at most wine and spirit stores and some supermarkets. You can also DIY, which allows you to highlight your favorite flavors.

“Making your own cocktail bitters is quite an easy and fun project,” Barbatsis says—it just requires a bit of patience. 

• Choose a high-proof, neutral-flavored alcohol as the base spirit. Vodka is a terrific option. 
• In a large mason jar, combine 2 cups of this spirit with 4 tablespoons of botanicals (herbs, spices), and your choice of bittering agents (gentian root, quinine, dried citrus peels).
• Allow the liquid to infuse for about 3 weeks, shaking daily. (The longer the ingredients sit, the stronger the bitters will become.)
• Using a fine mesh strainer, separate the solids from the infused spirit.
• Store in an airtight container; preferable a dropper bottle ($10 for 12, Amazon).

How to Store Cocktail Bitters

Whether you’re buying or DIY-ing, you’ll want to store your cocktail bitters in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight and heat, Cieslak advises.

“You can refrigerate them, but they will also keep just fine in your cupboard,” says Wood-Snyderman. “Bitters last for quite some time because of the intensity of flavor and their typically high alcohol content.”

As with spices the flavors and aromas are stronger when bitters are young, so Brown recommends “using them frequently so you can enjoy the freshly infused flavors in their prime.”