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Bitters

Angostura Bitters

  • Bitters
  • 79 drinks

Is this for me?

Choose this if…

  • ✓You want aromatic complexity and bitterness — a little goes a long way.

Skip if…

  • ✗You prefer drinks without bitter or herbal notes.

At a Glance

37 kcalCalories
0gSugar
0gCarbs
BittersType
79Recipes

Ingredient nutrition is approximate and varies by brand, recipe and preparation.

What is Angostura Bitters?

Angostura bitters are concentrated aromatic bitters used in small dashes to season cocktails. They add spice, depth and structure to Old Fashioned-style drinks, sours, highballs, tropical cocktails and many classic recipes.

What does Angostura Bitters taste like?

Intensely aromatic, bitter and spiced, with clove, cinnamon, gentian, dried fruit and herbal notes. Angostura bitters pair especially well with whiskey, rum, brandy, gin, citrus, sugar, ginger and tropical fruit.

Angostura Bitters profile

Mixability: HighIntensity: BoldDryBeginner-friendly: Low

Best used for: old fashioneds, classic cocktails, sours, refreshing drinks

  • Appears in 79+ recipes
  • Has 3 common substitutes

Ways to use angostura bitters

Cocktails (79)

Angostura bitters are concentrated aromatic bitters used in small dashes to season cocktails. They add spice, depth and structure to Old Fashioned-style drinks, sours, highballs, tropical cocktails and many classic recipes.

Flavour profile

Bitter · primarySpice · secondary

Recipes using this

Observed quantities

Observed in single-serve recipes: middle half 0.92–1.84 ml; median 0.92 ml.

In the measured recipes in this dataset — from 76 observed uses.

Scoped nutrition

Calories (per 100 ml)
247
Sugar (per 100 ml)
0 g
Carbs (per 100 ml)
0 g

Ingredient nutrition is approximate and varies by brand, recipe and preparation.

Diet compatibility

  • Gluten-FreeCompatible
  • KetoLimited
  • Low-CarbLimited
  • Low-SugarCompatible
  • VeganCompatible
  • VegetarianCompatible

Based on the listed ingredient only — a public recipe facet, not medical, allergy or coeliac advice. Specific brands and preparation can change compatibility.

Commonly observed with

Simple SyrupDark RumBourbonSweet VermouthLemon TwistLime JuiceStraight Rye WhiskeyOrange Twist

Observed co-use in the reviewed recipe corpus — not a universal pairing recommendation.

Trust & methodology

Canonical ingredient/component authority assembled from reviewed identity, recipe, flavour, nutrition, diet and substitution evidence. Observed quantities and co-use patterns are descriptive, not prescriptions or universal recommendations.

Evidence last updated: 2026-07-16T02:53:30.320595+00:00

What it is

What do Angostura bitters do in drinks?

Angostura bitters add spice, bitterness and aromatic depth in very small amounts. They are usually used as an accent rather than a main ingredient.

How it's used

How Angostura bitters are used

A few dashes can sharpen sweet, spirit-forward or citrus drinks. Bitters help connect flavors and can make a simple recipe taste more complete.

Common mistakes

Common mistakes

Using too much bitters can make a drink taste medicinal or harsh. Start with the recipe amount, then adjust carefully because bitters are concentrated.

About this drink

Angostura bitters began as a medicinal-style aromatic bitters product before becoming a core cocktail seasoning. Its history is relevant because many classic cocktails rely on bitters the way cooking relies on spice: a small amount changes the whole structure.

Drink counts and recipe data are based on published WhatDrink recipes. Figures may vary as new recipes are added.

Angostura Bitters — common questions

How many cocktails are made with Angostura Bitters?
There are 79 cocktail recipes featuring Angostura Bitters in the WhatDrink database.
What are the most popular cocktails made with Angostura Bitters?
Top-ranked cocktails made with Angostura Bitters include Abbey Martini, Americana, Autumn Leaves. Rankings are based on recipe quality and data completeness.
What type of ingredient is Angostura Bitters?
Angostura Bitters is classified as a bitters in the WhatDrink ingredient database.
What do the sensory profile dimensions mean?
Sensory profile dimensions describe key flavour characteristics: Intensity (light to bold), Sweetness (dry to sweet), Mixability (how versatile it is in cocktails) and Beginner-Friendly (acquired taste to easy intro). Each scale helps you compare Angostura Bitters with similar ingredients at a glance.
How do I use the Angostura Bitters sensory profile to find drinks I like?
If you enjoy the intensity and flavour profile of Angostura Bitters, look for other ingredients or cocktails with a similar profile. Compare Intensity, Sweetness and Mixability to find substitutes or discover new cocktails in the same flavour family.