Angostura Bitters
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.
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
Best used for: old fashioneds, classic cocktails, sours, refreshing drinks
- Appears in 78+ recipes
- Has 3 common substitutes
Best For
Best With Angostura Bitters
Drink Profile
Best for
- Aromatic complexity
- Mocktails
- Best with whiskey
- Best with rum
- Best with brandy
Substitutes & similar
Possible substitutes for Angostura Bitters
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.