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Don’t let missing bitters stop you from making a tasty cocktail. Here are the best bitters substitutes to use in your next Old Fashioned and more.
Cocktail bitters are alcohol that’s infused with herbs, fruit, spices, leaves, and other botanicals. They have a bitter, herbal flavor and add nuance and intrigue to classic cocktails.
The most famous cocktail recipe to use bitters is the Old Fashioned, but there are lots of other greats that benefit from the added intrigue, like the Manhattan and Sazerac. The most popular types of bitters are:
- Angostura bitters
- Peychauds bitters
- Orange bitters
If you don’t have cocktail bitters on hand, you’re in luck. There are several options for substitutes that are easy to find. I tested each one in an Old Fashioned, and here are my favorites!
Best bitters substitutes
1. Campari
The best substitute for bitters is Campari. Campari is a popular Italian liqueur that’s bright red and best known for its use in the Negroni. It’s intensely bitter and lightly sweet. It works extraordinarily well in an Old Fashioned, and it’s one of the most popular secondary liqueurs, so you might already have it on hand.
Use this ratio: 4 dashes bitters = ¼ teaspoon Campari
2. Absinthe
Absinthe is a popular liqueur with a black licorice finish, most popular for being banned in the U.S. and Europe for almost 100 years. It’s now in good graces and part of popular cocktails like the Sazerac and the Corpse Reviver.
Use this ratio: 4 dashes bitters = ¼ teaspoon absinthe
3. Fernet-Branca (or other amaro)
Any type of Amaro, a family of Italian herbal liqueurs that taste bitter, is a solid substitute for bitters. (Amaro means bitter in Italian.) Amaro encompasses a wide range of spirits, including Campari and the super-bitter Fernet-Branca. Fernet is strong, so you only need to use a few drops.
Use this ratio: 4 dashes bitters = 2 drops Fernet-Branca or ¼ teaspoon Italian amaro
Related recipes
Here are some cocktails with bitters to try:
