Planning to serve a bitters cocktail but can’t decide what recipe to choose? Lucky you! We’ve compiled a list of the 19 best bitters cocktails for your next party!
You may have heard about bitters but unsure how this concentrated, high-proof alcohol works on your favorite cocktails once added.
Bitters are stored in small bottles with seeds, herbs, fruits, flowers, bark, and roots infused with a flavorless alcohol base.
It’s highly aromatic and flavored botanical extracts, so drinking it straight is not advisable as the taste is too overpowering and unpleasant without any mix.
It only takes a few dashes of bitters to add a strong flavor to your cocktail.
It is the secret of Black Manhattan’s signature flavor, and the same goes with your classic Old Fashioned Cocktails.
If coffee makes you happy and you want it to be served as a cocktail, you can give the Wake Up Call Cocktail a go on your glass.
Let me give you a heads-up with #19 because it tastes incredible, yet you’ll feel the kick the next day.
So if you’re ready, then let’s get on the list!
Bijou Cocktail is one of the classic cocktails that has been around for centuries.
It was created in the 1890s and was named by Harry Johnson after the word bijoux, which means jewels in French.
Each alcohol represents a jewel: clear gin for diamond, vermouth for ruby, and chartreuse for emerald.
Adding a few drops of orange bitters enhances the flavors of each alcohol into a perfect blend.
Its spicy, citrusy, and balanced sweet flavor makes this a unique classic cocktail you would like to introduce to your family and guests at future gatherings.
By the name itself, you will hint at what this cocktail consists of.
It’s a twist to the classic espresso martini by adding rum, orange, and chili bitters.
The intense flavor of freshly brewed coffee plus rum and bitters adds a kick when you get a chance to drink this.
Chili bitters add spiciness to the drink while orange bitters help balance the sweetness brought by simple syrup.
So there’s no doubt it will wake you up once you get a glass with this cocktail.
Fitzgerald Cocktail may sound classic from the ingredient list and how it is being done, but its flavor profile brings a modern twist.
This cocktail is a combination of gin, lemon, sugar, and bitters.
The balanced flavors of sweet, bitter, and sour bring a revitalizing taste to this concoction.
If you want to introduce a gin cocktail in a unique yet classy way to a crowd, this is the cocktail to try on.
4. Sazerac
If you like the taste of Old Fashioned, you might enjoy this cocktail, too!
It is a fuse of Rye Whiskey, simple syrup, dashes of Peychaud’s bitters, and absinthe rinse to make this delicious drink.
Some may add both angostura and Peychaud’s bitter together.
Some prefer Peychaud’s alone as it already brings a fruity and sweet flavor to it.
This recipe provides you different options and variations to match with your palate.
It is the cocktail to taste if you love to drink cocktails loaded with a citrusy flavor.
Combining Aperol, aquavit, fresh limes, and orange bitters with sparkling waters brings that refreshing vibe to every sip.
The Martinez Cocktail is similar to the classic martini, with a complex and sweet flavor profile.
It has Old Tom Gin that has a bit of sweet flavor, while Italian vermouth has a dark, bittersweet taste that balances the sweet fragrance of Maraschino liqueur.
With added bitters to this drink, it sure does that beautiful fragrant with a balanced sweet flavor that you will surely enjoy.
7. Pegu Club
Pegu Club cocktail was invented in Burma (Myanmar) and was named after a British club during the 1870s.
It’s a gin-based cocktail with triple sec, freshly squeezed lime juice, and a dash of aromatic and orange bitters.
Its tangy and fruity flavor brings a refreshing cocktail experience.
This cocktail is the smoky version of the classic old Fashioned Cocktail.
It’s also called the Oaxaca Old Fashioned, which is made of oaky reposado tequila and smoky mezcal.
If you prefer less alcohol in this drink, you can start with half an ounce of mezcal instead of a whole ounce.
It’s a cocktail you would like to savor to appreciate its beautiful oaky flavor.
The original Manhattan has Rye Whiskey, Sweet Vermouth, and Angostura bitters.
For this Black Manhattan recipe, Sweet Vermouth is replaced with Amaro Averna and included orange bitters to add some fruity flavor to the mix.
Angostura bitters add depth to the cocktail while orange bitters enhance the complex layer of the flavor of Amaro Averna.
Topped with Maraschino Cherry skewered on a cocktail pick to give it a classy look.
Averna Espresso is an Italian-style Espresso Martini.
Adding chocolate bitters to this drink highlights the flavor of espresso that blends well with Averna liqueur and vanilla syrup.
It is ideal for serving after savoring a delicious meal and you would like to catch up with friends while sipping a glass of this flavorful drink.
It is your ideal cocktail if you like sugar, spice, and everything nice.
It uses jalapeño-infused tequila, lemon juice, jalapeño, Peychaud’s and mole bitters, and chamomile syrup, which brings a pleasant fragrance when you sip it.
It’s an elegant cocktail to serve to impress your guests.
12. Black Dahlia
This tequila-based cocktail has just the right sweetness with a balanced taste of ginger liqueur and mole bitters.
Creme de Cassis brings the sweet flavor and beautiful color of this drink.
Mole bitters are the secret ingredients to this drink with a hint of chocolate and a smoky and spicy taste that adds depth to this concoction.
If mole bitters are not available, orange bitters are an ideal substitute.
Let’s bring the classics to this list.
Old-fashioned cocktails will never be old and can be served on any occasion.
You can use Rye or Bourbon, sugar, then some dash of angostura bitters, and ice to make a glass of this drink.
You can make this at home and serve it like a pro.
This Margarita variation is just proof that adding bitters can do wonders.
You only need three drops of orange bitters to add a beautiful layer of fruity flavor to this classic concoction.
The citrusy and sweet taste of this cocktail will surely impress any crowd.
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16. Rob Roy Cocktail
Rob Roy is a classic cocktail invented in 1894 to tribute to an operetta of the same name.
It’s also known as Scotch Manhattan as it uses Scotch whiskey instead of rye or bourbon.
Its rich, flavorful, and warming taste will make you feel comfortable while savoring every sip.
Let’s bring the standard Gin Sour cocktail to a new level.
Including Peychaud bitters in this cocktail does magic to make the taste even better.
Including this in the mix gives this cocktail a pretty-looking color and enticing aroma.
Aside from bitters, freshly squeezed lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg whites are combined to make a frothy and luscious cocktail to savor.
It is another Manhattan variation that you should try.
This drink has coffee liqueur instead of sweet vermouth.
Having orange bitters and smoked orange peel gives a smokey orange accent that contrasts with the coffee liqueur and elevates the taste of whiskey.
It’s a bar cocktail you can make on your own.
19. Zombie
You’ll be surprised with just a few sips of this drink.
It’s a tiki cocktail made with mixed rum, fresh fruit juices, exotic spices, and bitters to give an exploding tropical flavor with a strong kick.
Its citrusy flavor and incredible aroma will make you want another glass.
You might forget it has a lot of alcohol content on it.
The bottom line
Leveling up your cocktail experience is a great way to bring something new to your parties and gatherings.
This list proves that even in small amounts, ingredients such as bitters do wonders when added to your drink.
Create any of these recipes to impress your family and friends at your upcoming gatherings to make them feel special in every glass.
Best Bitters Cocktails
Planning to serve a bitters cocktail but can't decide what recipe to choose? Lucky you! We've compiled a list of the 19 best bitters cocktails for your next party!
Ingredients
- Bijou Cocktail
- Wake Up Call Cocktail
- Fitzgerald Cocktail
- Sazerac
- Aperol Aquavit Cocktail
- Martinez Cocktail
- Pegu Club
- Mezcal Old Fashioned
- Black Manhattan
- Averna Espresso Cocktail
- Sonambula Cocktail
- Black Dahlia
- Old Fashioned Cocktail
- Margarita With Fresh Lime & Bitters
- Amaretto Orange White Russians
- Rob Roy Cocktail
- Pink Gin Sour Cocktail
- Revolver Cocktail
- Zombie
Instructions
- Find your favorite recipe from our Bitters Cocktail list.
- Gather all the ingredients needed.
- Start mixing and make us proud!