Many classic and spirit-forward cocktails make use of bitters for that right hit of flavor. Angostura bitters are often the most called-upon bitters, which is understandable considering they’ve been part of the cocktail culture for more than 200 years now. Yet, there can be occasions where you’d rather go with an angostura bitters substitute.
Thankfully, there is no dearth of capable options and substitutes to fill that role. But before we go further, it’s worth noting that Angostura Bitters are a commercial product and there are several other commercial products that can replace them in a recipe. And with countless companies and businesses offering bitters, it’s impossible to have an exhaustive list.
What we can work with are some fairly popular options and ideas along with some suggestions.
To summarize, usual substitutes for angostura bitters include Peychaud’s bitters, The Bitter Truth bitters, Fee Brothers Bitters, Bittercube Aromatic bitters, and Campari.
Let’s get to the details and see how the substitution works out!
Table of Contents
Best Angostura Bitters Substitute Ideas
1. Peychaud’s Bitters
Peychaud’s Bitters is a product popular in its own right, and one that’s often regarded as the best substitute of Angostura Bitters. If you don’t have angostura at hand and would like a similar profile for your cocktail or recipe needs, Peychaud’s Bitters are the way to go.
However, these are not an exact copy of angostura bitters and there is a notable difference in flavors. Peychaud’s bitters have a more floral aroma and have a taste that has hints of caramel and licorice, making them a bit sweeter than angostura bitters.
2. Bitter Truth Bitters
Here’s another aromatic bitter that can play the role of an angostura bitters substitute quite convincingly. If you prefer to lean into the bitter tasting side of bitters, then Bitter Truth Bitters are the way to go. There are taste notes of cinnamon, cardamom, and anise that contribute to the overall complex flavor profile of these bitters.
3. Fee Brothers Bitters
Fee Brothers bitters replace angostura bitters in most recipes and bring more fruity notes and aroma to the cocktail. Well, technically, these bitters are available in several flavors, so you can pick what suits your palate better.
These bitters offer a good combination of quality ingredients and complex flavors. They go well with most applications of angostura bitters and can liven up cocktails with their taste and aroma.
4. Bittercube Aromatic Bitters
Another exciting substitute for angostura bitters, these Bittercube Aromatic Bitters fulfill their role and also add a twist to the flavors. These bitters get more creative with their taste and flavors than most other options on the market.
You can find them in flavors like cherry bark vanilla, bolivar, blackstrap, root beer, and several more. And these aren’t novelty items, but genuine, carefully crafted bitters that fit their role while bringing a creative twist to the flavors.
It’s quite an exciting flavor paradise for those who like to get something more from their classic cocktails.
5. Campari
To be clear, Campari is not an ideal substitute for Angostura Bitters. It is, however, a workable alternative which could also be more preferable to many palates.
Campari is an apéritif liquer of the bitters variety, but not an amaro — on that note, amaro can be a workable substitute for angostura bitters, though again, not an ideal one.
Campari is a flavorful option that works wonders all by itself and can play a useful role in many classic cocktails. However, there can be a division of opinions here. Many of the classic cocktails are also spirit-forward drinks and call for ingredients like angostura bitters.
Therefore, it’s only natural that many purists wouldn’t agree to campari being an accepted substitute for such recipes. Yet, it can stand to reason that the greatest judge of the flavor results is your own palate. And if you find campari works, well, then it works!
6. Get Creative!
Well, this point is not a clear line of substitution, it is a call to what works best for your needs. With the wide variety of flavors available in the modern world, it is perfectly okay to experiment with all the bitters options should you feel like it.
I mean, with the variety available to the modern consumer, it would be a waste to never step out of the realm of 150 year old recipe books.
Delve deeper into orange bitters should you wish, pick a chocolate bitter, the walnut bitters work wonders with several cocktails, and as we already know, there are several creative flavors waiting to be explored. Follow your palate to pick an option that works for you.
After all, with the wealth of flavors at your disposal, there’s no need to limit yourself.
Although, to reel ourselves back a bit from all this talk of options, I would suggest sticking with high-quality bitters. Additionally, it’s best not to skip bitters from your cocktail recipe. I’m surely not going to judge you for that, especially after all this talk of following your palate, but it’s a matter of free choice, not anarchy!
Cocktails without bitters just don’t taste right. And they ain’t right!
7. No-Alcohol Options
Bitters typically contain a significant amount of alcohol, often equal to the spirit ingredients of the cocktails themselves! But should you find yourself in a position where you want a no-alcohol option, you would likely have to look harder.
While 0 alcohol bitters do exist, they are rare and can be rather difficult to get hold of. However, there are some high-quality options like the 0 Alcohol aromatic bitters from All The Bitter and Non Alcoholic bitters from Bab Louie & Co.
These can work with cocktails and mocktails, so take your pick and enjoy your drinks. And of course, bitters have applications beyond beverages, so these non-alcoholic options can be really useful when you want all of the flavor and none of the alcohol.
Some Notes About Angostura Bitters And Their Substitution
Quick Facts About Angostura Bitters
The famous Angostura Bitters are a product of the House of Angostura or Angostura Limited, Trinidad and Tobago. Its name, however, comes from a town in Venezuela (now renamed to Ciudad Bolívar), which is where the company was originally founded.
Incidentally, many businesses and brands use the name Angostura bitters for their product. To justify the use of this similar naming, many of such brands use the Angostura tree bark as an ingredient in their bitters. However, the original Angostura bitters do not use the Angostura plant in their product. The name is simply a reference to the city, not the plant.
Another interesting aspect is the recipe of the famous and original Angostura bitters. It has something of a status of a legend and there are several rumors about the recipe.
It is sometimes suggested that only one person knows the full recipe and it’s passed down as a family secret. Another rumor suggests that a handful of some other people also know the ingredients, but none of these people know the full recipe.
I guess it’s impossible to know the full truth, given all this speculation but at least we can say that Angostura has done a great job keeping its recipe a secret over these centuries.
Some Popular Cocktails That Call For Angostura Bitters As An Ingredient
Here’s a quick list of a few well-known cocktails that use Angostura Bitters as an ingredient. Of course, the list is not exhaustive. Here we go:
- Manhattan
- Old Fashioned
- Singapore Sling
- Trinidad Sour
- Cuba Libre
- Champagne Cocktail
- Bourbon Lancer
Some Uses Of Bitters
Generally, Angostura Bitters (or any other bitters) are used as ingredients for cocktails. However, they can have more possible uses. Here are some ideas:
- Cocktail Ingredients: Angostura bitters are most commonly used as an ingredient in some very popular cocktails. In this case, they can be mixed with the ingredients during preparation, or added at the top in the end to somewhat layer the bitters at the top of the drink.
- As Standalone Drinks: While this use is rare, it is entirely possible to enjoy bitters, especially complex high-quality bitters like Angostura on their own merit. You might add some other ingredients, or just enjoy these bitters all by themselves.
- As Ingredient For Other Culinary Uses: Thanks to their complex tastes, bitters can come in handy in several recipes. This can include beverages like a combination of club soda and a small amount of bitters, a few drops of bitters in whipped cream for desserts, using bitters to replace extracts (like vanilla extract) in some baked good recipes, in soups and gravies, and as a simple salad dressing.
Point is, bitters can go beyond just cocktails.
Picking Your Favorite Angostura Bitters Substitute
Even if it’s a high-quality and beloved ingredient, it stands to reason that many people would want to try an angostura bitters substitute to try a different flavor kick for their favorite cocktail. After all, it has been suggested that bitters are like the spice rack for the world of cocktails. So, switching the ingredients slightly to pick the combination of your choice is only natural.
Take a look at the ideas listed here and see what suits your style and palate. And yes, don’t be afraid of experimenting to pick the best choice for you.