What can I use instead of Angostura Bitters? Peychaud’s and Fee Brothers are the best replacements for Angostura Bitters, offering a similar style of drink. However, other bitters options include Bitter Truth Aromatic, Bittercube Aromatic, and Bitters Club Aromatic. You can also use sweeter Amaro like Campari and Fernet-Branca.
Angostura Bitters is an essential ingredient in the bartending industry. The tonic combines the perfect blend of spices and herbs to balance out overly sweet or sour cocktails. But, if you can’t get a hold of Angostura Bitters, consider one of these unique alternatives.
Angostura Bitters Substitutes
Peychaud’s Bitters
While slightly different, Peychaud’s Bitters is the best substitute for Angostura Bitters.
Like Angostura Bitters, Peychaud’s is a spicy, gentian-based bitters with notes of cloves. However, Peychaud is sweeter, boasting candied cherry and orange flavors.
You can use Peychaud’s Bitters instead of Angostura Bitters when slinging drinks like Old Fashioned, Manhattan, or Whiskey Sour.
Peychaud’s Bitters contains 35% ABV compared to the 45% ABV of Angostura Bitters. However, you can incorporate them interchangeably into recipes using roughly the exact quantities.
The bitters are used in tiny amounts, so the 10% alcohol difference won’t significantly impact the drink.
Fee Brothers Bitters
Fee Brothers Bitters has a range of flavors, including cherry, celery, mint, grapefruit, Aztec chocolate, cranberries, and more.
Use Fee Brothers’ Old Fashioned Aromatic Bitters to replace Angostura Bitters for the closest flavor resemblance.
You can also use the Gin Barrel-Aged Orange Bitters if you want an alternative to Angostura Orange Bitters.
Fee Brothers’ multiple botanicals add a depth of flavor to drinks like Negroni, Pisco Sour, and Tiki Max.
You can use Fee Brothers Bitters in any recipe that requires Angostura if you don’t mind the stronger allspice and cinnamon aroma.
Fee Brothers Bitters has a low ABV of up to 17% compared to the 45% ABV of Angostura Bitters.
However, we recommend using them in equal amounts to prevent overpowering allspice and cinnamon flavors.
Bitter Truth Old Time Aromatic Bitters
Bitter Truth Old Time Aromatic Bitters boasts the same hallmark spices of Angostura Bitters, like cloves, cinnamon, and anise. So naturally, it’s another ideal substitute when you’re in a pinch.
Use Bitter Truth Old Time Aromatic Bitters to add a spicy kick to a wood-aged spirit or complexity and structure to cocktails like the Old Fashioned, Queen’s Park Swizzle, and old Cuban.
Bitter Truth Aromatic Bitters has a 39% ABV% compared to the 45% ABV of Angostura Bitters. So, you can substitute the two bitters using a 1:1 ratio.
Bittercube Aromatic Bitters
Bittercube Aromatic Bitters slow crafts nine artisanal bitters varieties bursting with diverse flavors and nuance. Our top replacements for Angostura Bitters include Blackstrap, Bolivar, and Orange Aromatic Bitters.
You can use Bittercube Aromatic Bitters in cocktails like the Old Fashioned, Manhattan, or Pisco Sour. However, you can also add a splash of bitters to your glass of champers or barrel-aged whiskey.
Bittercube Aromatic Bitters and Angostura Bitters contain similar alcohol percentages. Therefore, you can use the two bitters interchangeably in drinks and cocktail recipes.
Bitters Club Aromatic Bitters
Bitters Club Aromatic Bitters ceases to disappoint for a slightly sweeter alternative to Angostura Bitters.
Bitters Club Aromatic Bitters took Angostura Bitters head-on, creating versatile yet similar aromatic bitters.
Bitters Club Aromatic Bitters features its unique aromatic flavors, best in an Old Fashioned or Manhattan cocktail. Like Angostura Bitters, you’ll enjoy the sweet cinnamon and anise notes best in these cocktails.
Bitters Club Aromatic Bitters uses four different types of alcohol in the bitters, resulting in around 60% ABV compared to the 45% ABV of Angostura Bitters.
Therefore, use a drop or two less of Bitters Club Aromatic Bitters when substituting Angostura Bitters.
Dashfire Old Fashioned Aromatic Bitters
Dashfire Old Fashioned Aromatic Bitters features autumn notes of orange, allspice, cinnamon, and clove. The spicy notes make it a suitable replacement for Angostura Bitters.
The comforting spices in Dashfire’s Old Fashioned Aromatic Bitters are ideal for barrel-aged spirits and cocktails like the Old Fashioned, Black Manhattan, Allegheny, and Americana.
Dashfire Old Fashioned Aromatic Bitters has a 40% ABV% compared to the 45% ABV of Angostura Bitters. You can use these two bitters interchangeably in cocktail recipes.
Campari
Campari, a digestive bitter or Amaro, is another slightly sweeter alternative to Angostura Bitters.
Although sweeter, Campari features similar bittersweet notes of cinnamon and clove to Angostura Bitters.
Like Angostura Bitters, the bittersweet flavors of Campari blend perfectly with cocktails like the Old Fashioned or Manhattan.
Campari’s alcohol content ranges between 20 and 28% ABV compared to the 45% ABV of Angostura Bitters.
So, feel free to add a second splash of Campari if you don’t mind the sweeter cherry and orange peel flavors.
Fernet-Branca
Fernet-Branca is an Amaro or digestive that you can use to replace Angostura Bitters if you’re in a pinch. Fernet-Branca is bitter, sweet, herbaceous, and spicy all at once.
Fernet-Branca’s gentian, bitter orange, saffron, and spices offer a unique flavor to cocktails like Hanky-Panky, Toronto, and the Manhattan.
Fernet-Branca has a 39% ABV compared to the 45% ABV of Angostura Bitters.Therefore, you can use a tad more of Fernet-Branca when replacing Angostura Bitters.
Remember that your cocktail’s flavor and aroma will differ.