Bitter Bliss

August 11, 2009

41491 Bitter BlissThe long awaited Angostura Orange bitters finally came in.  I’ve wanted them for a long time and was hoping the liquor store would stock them, but that never came to fruition so I ordered them online.  I also got a bottle of Regan’s orange bitters and Peychaud’s bitters (embarrassed we didn’t always have them).  This in addition to the bitters I made last month, which all turned out quite well (although the cardamom in the Bitters IV is a bit too strong – will tool around with that in the near future) has made for very little space on the bar top (need a shelf just for the bitters).  I cannot tell you how I love the Angostura Orange bitters, they got excellent reviews and they are the best orange bitters I have ever had.  They have a much deeper complex flavor that the Fee Brothers (which taste like Fanta Orange) or Regan’s.  There is cardamom, lemon zest, and cinnamon which add an intricacy that you don’t find in other orange bitters.  The flavor is long and involved with the flavor of orange essential oils bursting through at the end.  Have your next manhattan with Angostura orange bitters!  – Columbine