Bitters occupy a strange space between food product and liquor, creating confusion for many drinkers.
Key Takeaways
- Most cocktail bitters are 35% to 45% ABV, but a few dashes add very little alcohol to a drink.
- Bitters act like cocktail seasoning, adding concentrated flavor and balance without boosting strength much.
- Bitters and soda offer cocktail-like flavor and ritual while staying under 0.5% ABV.
Bitters are a cocktail’s seasoning agent. Made from a concentrated blend of herbs, fruit, and other botanicals, they add balance and flavor to a drink. A couple of dashes is all it takes.
Bitters exist in a weird pocket within the adult beverage universe. They contain a fairly decent alcohol by volume (ABV), but the federal government regulates them like a food product. It’s possible to pick up a bottle of Angostura bitters at a store not permitted to sell liquor, depending on state and local laws.
This can cause confusion, as some consumers may not realize bitters contain alcohol in the first place. Most do, and they generally contain quite a bit. It leads to another question. Namely, does the alcohol in bitters impact a cocktail?…