Cocktail Bitters & The Sazerac Cocktail

One cannot talk about the history of cocktail bitters without talking about The Sazerac. You can also put The Old Fashioned in the exact same category. These cocktails exemplify the pure definition of a cocktail: spirits, sugar, water, and bitters.

Cocktail Bitters in a Sazerac

The bitters called for in a Sazerac usually have a bit of wormwood, bringing out that black licorice flavor often compounded by the use of Absinthe or Absinthe liqueur. That said, Peychaud's Bitters is the fundamental bitter for a Sazerac — primarily because Peychaud himself developed this cocktail, traditionally using a cognac or brandy (today we use Rye Whiskey or Bourbon).

Alternatively, Orleans Bitters by Scrappy's is a great choice for the Sazerac. When working with the sister cocktail, the Old Fashioned, you'll want to reach for Angostura bitters — another classic hitting the 100-year mark. But aromatic bitters have grown enormously; Angostura is just the tip of the iceberg. Also look toward Scrappy's Aromatic Bitters as a solid purchase.

When To Use Cocktail Bitters?

Asking when to use a cocktail bitter is like asking when to add salt or pepper to your meat. The answer is simple: always. You don't have to branch out past the basics of Angostura and Peychaud's if you don't want to — however, the industry has grown enormously over the last 100 years. In the beginning, only a handful of bitters were widely distributed; the rest were all created at the bar you were visiting. Nobody had them at home unless they were used for a home remedy.

What Should I Explore Next?

Take your bitter enthusiasm on a cruise. Try adding some celery bitters to a daiquiri, or add some heat like Mexican Mole bitters to a Margarita. You don't have to pick up every flavor — and you can use many of the same bitters across a wide range of drinks. A Mole bitter is probably best left for specific drink designs, but most aromatic bitters are surprisingly versatile.

The Sazerac is simply one example to start you down that journey — but it's a journey worth taking.