Best cocktail bitters according to redditors

A big-ass bottle of Angostura bitters. Make a lifetime supply of manhattans and old fashioneds, add it to dishes, put it in your water, drink it straight because you're a man and real men don't need to dilute their bitters.

You might like Jack Rudy's elderflow tonic syrup. We use it in place of normal tonic syrup in almost every instance.

Just to add to the Diet Coke & Rum --> add a slice of lime (squeezed if you want) and a few drops of that awesome thing called Angostura Bitters (most liquor stores should carry it, otherwise Amazon).
This makes a simple Rum-Coke go from "nice" to "magical".

Also OP, you can try making a Mojito without the sugar/syrup and instead use some erythritol.

You can get Angostura for ~$13 for a 4 ounce/118ml bottle – scale that up to standard 750ml size bottle and it's $81.90. Not too absurd considering it's very high quality, 89.4 proof, and is only used in dashes and drops.

Sure, some craft/artisanal/etc. bitters are going to be more expensive, but those are specialty products.

P.S. buy the bigger bottle of Ango and you're getting a much better deal – 4 cents/ml vs. 11 cents/ml.

I like using bitters (like the kind you use for cocktails). A few dashes in a glass will give the water some flavoring without making it sweet--think LaCroix rather than sugary soda. A full size bottle of the good stuff can be expensive (like $15-20) but will last for an incredibly long time. Orange bitters are a good place to start, and I really like lavender bitters in the evening before bed. Scrappy's Bitters also makes these sampler packs that give you 4 tiny bottles of different flavors.

Sure.

Bitters (Double Pack with Orange and Regular, not in this drink but useful to have)

Low-Carb Simple Syrup

Unflavored Gin should be low carb.

The lime juice is just a fresh lime juiced and the basil is fresh as well.

Soda Water shouldn't have any carbs either. But I used this one.

Additionally, I will start including links for the ingredients I used (if they make sense).

You seem like someone who goes through a lot of angostura. Here it is almost at cheap per oz.

We use fee brothers Old Fashioned bitters

Basically they taste like ango with more cinnamon - and more allspice but cinnamon is the major player.

So there’s this company called Bittercube in Milwaukee, WI. This is one of my favorites with mezcal. On amazon

I just got it on Amazon. Well worth the investment. It goes great in Manhattans and Old Fashioneds too.

Where do you live where you have easy access to a Crate and Barrel but no access to Angostura? It's available on amazon. I've never tried Hella Bitters Aromatic, and I'm sure they are somewhat similar, but honestly Angostura is just a classic flavor profile. It's worth having a bottle if only so you can make a proper, traditional version of some very classic cocktails (old fashioned, Manhattan, etc.)

Scrappy’s Firewater Bitters

https://www.amazon.com/Scrappys-Bitters-2150-Firewater-Tincture/dp/B00GXCD61Y/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?hvadid=77790510741139&hvbmt=bb&hvdev=m&hvqmt=b&keywords=scrappy+bitters&qid=1562719632&s=gateway&sr=8-3

This is a weird thing I do: take a Michelob Ultra and add grapefruit hops bitters. It's almost like having a pale ale.

Makers Mark all the way. I prefer to sip my Woodfords. Wild turkey 81 is decent too. As you say tho it is deffo each to their own. I love quite a bit of bitters where as some people find it too much.

I got a great starter kit for bitters. www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B006ZMHWAI/

Seattle has a wonderful bitters maker - Scrappy’s Bitters. They make all sorts of wonderful bitters. They have a lavender bitters that goes wonderfully with some floral gin drinks.

Here is a sampler pack on Amazon, to give you some good ideas for their offerings!

These bitters for a nice whiskey cocktail.

-Brie Baker with all the ingredients to get started (Brie cheese, fruit, nuts, honey)

-Butter Bell with a loaf of locally made bread

-Mariposa Napkin Box with Weights and Cocktail Napkins

-Cocktail Shaker Set with Bitters, Stirrers, and a nice bottle of liquor

-Cool coffee table book (esp. if it matches a gift set mentioned above (The Art of Mixology or Magnolia Table) or it's hostess-themed, such as Kate Spade's All In Good Taste or Emily Post's Manners for Today)

-Guest Book for house/bathroom/guest room (and this is always fun because you can be the first one to sign it and everyone at the housewarming party can sign it/write a message). Look around Etsy for these...I'm not crazy about the ones on Amazon.

Hope this helps! Happy housewarming to your friend!

You should have used Woodford bitters and Woodford bourbon aged cherries.

Alcohol based cocktail ingredient.


https://www.amazon.com/Angostura-Aromatic-Cocktail-Bitters-Bottle/dp/B0037X4QDO/ref=pd_aw_sim_79_2/144-8206770-8320317?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B0037X4QDO&pd_rd_r=804c0bf1-c44a-41af-b489-b1e677b00648&pd_rd_w=pPU1Q&pd_rd_wg=RQMkm&pf_rd_p=daeb2ab7-3cb7-4369-a59f-058fab894db6&pf_rd_r=KM52J74BNF6DRJ2T1PGM&psc=1&refRID=KM52J74BNF6DRJ2T1PGM

Simple Syrup is a mix of sugar and water, it's used as a sweetener. Sour mix is supposed to taste like citrus juice + sugar, so it's both sweet and sour.

Bitters usually refer to these. The bottle has a limiter so you just add a dash (and only a few drops will come out).

For tasting, you use a straw, stick it in, cover the top with your thumb, and take it out to taste.

This was what I used. It seems a little pricey but it's bitters, therefore, pretty potent. Even after 5 tiny Mic Ultra 8oz cans (and I wasn't being stingy with it) it doesn't look like I used any. I'm sure any brand will do. https://www.amazon.com/Bittermens%C2%AE-Hopped-Grapefruit-Bitters-5oz/dp/B004Y4Z9EA

http://www.amazon.com/Bittermens-Hopped-Grapefruit-Cocktail-Bitters/dp/B004Y4Z9EA

or really these are fine, though not as good (but convert 5 drops to 1 dash) http://www.amazon.com/Fee-Brothers-Grapefruit-Bitters-5oz/dp/B008L180Z2/ref=sr_1_1?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1452573255&sr=1-1&keywords=grapefruit+bitters

By the time you drive all over the place trying to find the bitters, you could have them at your doorstep, probably for less $$. Bittermen's, Xocolatl Mole Bitters.

Boulevardier

• 1 ½ ounces bourbon ( I used Jeffersons)
  
• ¾ ounce sweet vermouth (I used Antica Formula)
  
• ¾ ounce Campari
  
• 1 Maraschino Cherry
  
  Vieux Carre
  
  
• 1/2 teaspoon Benedictine
  
• 1 dash Peychaud’s Bitters
  
• 1 dash Angostura Bitters
  
• 3/4 ounce rye whiskey (I used Whistlepig Farmstock)
  
• 3/4 ounce cognac (I used Hennessy)
  
• 3/4 ounce sweet vermouth (I used Cochi)
  
• 1 Maraschino Cherry

https://www.amazon.com/Top-Hat-Craft-Ginger-Syrup/dp/B01D9MBW3E/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=top+hat+ginger+beer&qid=1565143666&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1

Unfortunately it doesn't seem to be on Amazon Canada (high five from a Canadian/US dual citizen, grew up in Calgary to be specific). It's got a great tartness and spice to it. I've tried some of the other ginger beer mixes and they have either been to sweet or not had enough ginger flavor. This one can be pretty tart for some people, so often times I'll add a little bit of the soda stream ginger ale to even it out, but it's a really tasty mix. Their other mixes are really good as well. They aren't as syrupy as the soda stream mixes so you will need to mix in 1.5-2x what you would mix with the sodastream flavors.

As mentioned, sugar-free syrups are an option. You can also find unsweetened flavorings, like from Capella, or extracts, or bitters. There are flavored coffee grinds, personally I'm digging Happy Mug's Banana Nut Bread, Apple Pie, and Winter Grogg.

Personally my cozy winter drinks were chai lattes and hot ciders (Starbucks Caramel Apple Spice-- good god!). I've found you can make some really tasty and cozy masala chai teas at home, no sugar needed. My favorite blend is actually Adagio's Rooibos Vanilla Chai, which bonus is an herbal tea (so no caffeine, good for "dessert"... my other favorite dessert tea is Nelson's Really Rootbeer). Both really come to life with a little heavy cream. Apple Cider substitutes are much harder... no tea comes close to the sugar-bomb of apple juice or the fruity complexity of unfiltered cider. The best apple tea I've had so far is Stash's Maple Apple Cider, which is good, but I'm always on the lookout for something better.

Part of what makes delicious cozy holiday drinks so delicious is a stupid amount of sugar. But part of what makes them good is a lot of milk. A little heavy cream can go a long way, it adds richness and body (and a subtle sweetness). "Lattes" can be made with unsweetened almond or coconut milk (although my experiments with this have gone poorly, TBH). I actually think this would be a great use for ultra-filtered milk like Fairlife (8g net carb per cup).

I just tried this at speakeasy last weekend. It was fantastic, and might work as a signature drink:

Don Lockwood:

1oz Bourbon

1oz Islay Scotch

3/8oz Maple Syrup

1dr Bitters, Bittermens Xocolatl Mole (which, you can buy on Amazon, which I know because I just went to buy some myself)

https://www.amazon.ca/Angostura-Aromatic-Bitters-16oz-Pack/dp/B0037X4QDO/ref=sr_1_cc_5?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1474234493&sr=1-5-catcorr&keywords=angostura+bitters


link to 16oz bottle for 100$

I make a weird take on a Mai Tai that is inspired by the Jagerita.

Basically it goes like this.

1 oz Cachaca
1 oz Jager Spice
1/2 oz Cointreau
1/2 oz Lime Juice
1/2 oz Orgeat Syrup
1 Dash of Fallernum Bitters

Shake with rocks glass worth of ice in a shaker, pour into rocks glass, top with a float of 1 oz of Jagermeister. Voila! The Jager Mai Tai! Even looks like a Mai Tai but is a complex herbal version of it. This recipe is still evolving, I almost have it perfected, the Cachaca was a recent change from White Rum, it balances it out and gives it more character.

It's actually really good.

I know it sounds weird.

Just make it.

Trust me, it's great.

Oh my god, stop... it's a great drink, who gives a fuck if it has Jager.

And so on...

I’d say their tonics are better than Schweppes, but there’s better things you can do to bring up your G&T.

A nice big twist of lemon peel (not a slice of lemon) twisted, rubbed round the inside of the rim and dropped in is probably the most bang for your buck in a G&T.

After that, you could look at adding flavour and depth with some bitters, which is what the flavoured fever tree tonics are emulating. Something like this Bitter Truth Selection Tin will give you a good selection (celery, orange and aromatic bitters in particular are great in a G&T).

To be honest, using either of the above you can make a top notch gin and tonic with supermarket own tonic water.

Well that sucks. If you're gonna break down and order from Amazon, you might wanna go with a sampler like the one linked below. It's got good Aromatic and orange bitters, but then also a couple other good ones for when you wanna branch out. With these they say 8 drops is equivalent to a normal dash, so they last longer than you'd think.

Scrappy's Bitters Classic Bitters Mini Set, 4 ct, 0.5 Ounce(Orange, Aromatic, Orleans, and Celery) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N1EOFS0/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_vILRDbS7VDVY7

Get ghost peppers, or whatever the hottest pepper you can find (habaneros if in the US), cut into a few pieces, shake with your liquor of choice, strain and save. Use this for shots, it should be plenty spicy. https://www.amazon.com/Scrappys-Bitters-2150-Firewater-Tincture/dp/B00GXCD61Y these also work pretty well, but they're more along the lines of normal spicy, "my aunt from India" levels will require something else. Alternately just get ridiculous hot sauce, add as much as needed to the shots.