Angostura Bitters

Angostura is a concentrated bitters made with herbs and spices. It was developed in 1824 in the Venezuelan town of Angostura (now called Ciudad Bolívar), when a German doctor Johann Gottlieb Benjamin Siegert, who was a surgeon general for Simón Bolívar, used a secret blend of botanicals, including angelica, cinchona, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, and orange peel, to create an antifebrile tonic.

The drink was an instant success and was later mainly used as a flavor enhancement because of the fairly high alcohol content of 44.7%. Due to political turmoil, Siegert relocated his company from Angostura to Trinidad and Tobago, where it still operates.

From a health remedy and an ingredient in sauces and desserts, Angostura bitters have become a quintessential element in cocktails and mixed drinks. They add complexity and enhance flavors in classics such as Old-Fashioned, Manhattan, Pink Gin, or Mai Tai.