Bitters & Extracts

What spices are to a chef, bitters are to a barman.

Gone are the days when a lonely bottle of Angostura bitters held court behind the bar. A cocktail renaissance has swept across the globe, inspiring in bartenders and their thirsty patrons a new fascination with the ingredients, techniques, and traditions that make a cocktail so special. And few ingredients have as rich a history or serve as fundamental a role in our beverage heritage as bitters (see Thomas Parson's Bitters: A Spirited History of a Classic Cure-All)

Many brands of bitters began as medicinal tonics and soon found a home in cocktails as concentrated flavour stimulants that add a nice kick to the mix even though they are only used by the dash. Bitters were considered a necessity in the early definition of a cocktail, but were left out of many drinks until their recent comeback thanks, in part, to an interest in classic cocktails.

Formulas are often closely guarded secrets and include a variety of herbs, fruits, spices, and roots distilled in a base liquor. In today's bar, bitters are essential, and each brings its own qualities to a cocktail, so don't be afraid to experiment.

Below we have the largest selections of bitters brands in the world. You can also go to the search bar above and type in a flavour you are looking for. Or use or 'Browse Flavours' feature.

282 Products Found