Even if you know nothing about cocktail recipes you’ve more than likely come across the name. No surprise as it happens to be an iconic brand amongst aromatic bitters. An astounding number of cocktail recipes include bitters and in case you did not know much about this staple in the world of mixology, read on!

Bitters are spirits infused with herbs, spices, fruits, roots, tree bark etc. and then used to flavor cocktails. You can imagine the complex flavors added when bitters include orange peels, gentian root, cassia bark, cascarilla, cinchona bark and many such exotic botanicals.

Some of the other popular brands found in India are Peychaud’s Bitters, The Bitter Truth, Fee Brothers and Regan’s Orange Bitter No.6 .

But let’s circle back to the uncrowned king of bitters. In fact, the company was appointed manufacturers of  Angostura aromatic bitters to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. And remains the only bitters brand in the world that can boast of such credentials.

The story of Angostura aromatic bitters started in the early 19th century with its founder Dr. Johann Siegert. Interestingly enough, he first produced it as a medicinal tincture  to treat stomach ailments for the soldiers in the army of Simon Bolivar, who liberated a host of South American countries from Spanish rule.

Named after the town on Angostura, Venezuela where Dr. Siegert lived he quickly perfected a formula used in his medical practice as a medical elixir for the soldiers into an infused spirit that could elevate alcohol drinks with unmatched flavors.

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The Golden Age of the Cocktail was dawning in 1900.

 Angostura Bitters as a key ingredient in cocktails was about to take the world to a new high. The Caribbean and the USA became good export opportunities and as luck would have it, cocktail recipes calling for the use of bitters had started gaining popularity.

The business had moved by then to Trinidad, where it is still Headquartered.

By the turn of the century, Angostura aromatic bitters were firmly rooted into the cocktail cultures of the world.  The craze for American Bars  in hotels like the iconic Savoy in UK and the Ritz  in Paris, France were instrumental in introducing classic cocktails to the glitterati. This was the era when cocktails like the Old Fashioned and the Manhattan became roaringly popular .

Just a few dashes could transform cocktails by adding depth, complexity, and subtle hints of spice. They continue to enhance flavors and balance the sweetness of syrups and liqueurs even adding aromatic touches to the cocktail. Some chefs even use it to add a unique depth to sauces, marinades and desserts.

Noticed the exaggerated and oversized label enveloping the bottle?

Apparently the distinctive oversized label on Angostura bitters bottles was originally intended to prevent counterfeiting but legend also has it that it was mistakenly oversized while printing it but was left as it was, for it’s quirky look. This iconic label has become synonymous with the brand and is instantly recognizable to enthusiasts and bartenders worldwide.

In recent years, Angostura bitters has experienced a resurgence in popularity, fueled by the craft cocktail movement and a growing interest in unique and artisanal ingredients.

Here are five classic cocktail recipes that feature Angostura bitters that you can mix at your next party – 

Old Fashioned

Ingredients:

  1. 2 oz Bourbon or Rye whiskey
  2. 1 sugar cube
  3. 2-3 dashes Angostura bitters
  4. Orange peel (for garnish)

Instructions:

  1. Place the sugar cube in a glass.
  2. Add 2-3 dashes of Angostura bitters onto the sugar cube.
  3. Muddle the sugar cube and bitters together.
  4. Add whiskey and ice to the glass.
  5. Stir well to combine bitters onto the sugar cube.
  6. Muddle the sugar cube and bitters together.
  7. Add whiskey and ice to the glass.
  8. Stir well to combine.
  9. Garnish with an orange peel twist.

 Manhattan

Ingredients:

  1. 2 oz Rye whiskey
  2. 1 oz Sweet vermouth
  3. 2-3 dashes Angostura bitters
  4. Maraschino cherry (for garnish)

Instructions:

  1. Fill a mixing glass with ice.
  2. Add rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and Angostura bitters.
  3. Stir well for about 30 seconds.
  4. Strain the mixture into a chilled cocktail glass.
  5. Garnish with a maraschino cherry.

 Whiskey Sour

  Ingredients:

  1. 2 oz Bourbon or Rye whiskey
  2. 3/4 oz Fresh lemon juice
  3. 1/2 oz Simple syrup
  4. 1 egg white (optional)
  5. 2-3 dashes Angostura bitters (for garnish)

Instructions:

  1. In a shaker, combine whiskey, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg white.
  2. Dry shake (shake without ice) for about 15 seconds.
  3. Add ice to the shaker and shake again for another 15 seconds.
  4. Strain the mixture into a rocks glass filled with ice.
  5. Garnish with 2-3 dashes of Angostura bitters on top.

Champagne Cocktail

Ingredients:

  1. 1 sugar cube
  2. 2-3 dashes Angostura bitters
  3. Champagne or sparkling wine
  4. Lemon twist (for garnish)

Instructions:

  1. Place a sugar cube at the bottom of a champagne flute.
  2. Add 2-3 dashes of Angostura bitters onto the sugar cube.
  3. Fill the glass with Champagne or sparkling wine.
  4. Garnish with a twist of lemon.

 Rum Punch

Ingredients:

  1. 2 oz Dark rum
  2. 3/4 oz Fresh lime juice
  3. 1 oz Orange juice
  4. 1/2 oz Grenadine
  5. 2-3 dashes Angostura bitters
  6. Orange slice and cherry (for garnish)

Instructions:

  1. Fill a shaker with ice.
  2. Add dark rum, fresh lime juice, orange juice, grenadine, and Angostura bitters.
  3. Shake well for about 15 seconds.
  4. Strain the mixture into a glass filled with ice.
  5. Garnish with an orange slice and a cherry.