✔ Updated · re-ranked by how close each swap tastes, with exact ratios, a comparison table and an alcohol-free option
Angostura bitters are a concentrated aromatic bitters, 44.7% alcohol, used by the dash in cocktails like the Old Fashioned and Manhattan. Run out mid-cocktail, like I have?
The best substitute for Angostura bitters is another aromatic bitters, used 1:1. Peychaud's bitters and orange bitters are the next best swaps, also 1:1, though Peychaud's is lighter with more anise and orange bitters are brighter. With no bitters at all, use a small splash of amaro, allspice dram or Campari and cut back slightly on the sweetener.
- Closest match: another aromatic bitters, 1:1
- Best easy swaps: Peychaud's or orange bitters, 1:1
- No bitters: about 1/4 oz amaro per 2 dashes
- Alcohol-free: non-alcoholic aromatic bitters or an orange peel and clove infusion
These swaps keep your drink balanced.
Best Bitters Substitutes for Angostura
Other cocktail bitters are the easiest swap because they are used in the same dash-sized amounts. I’ve ranked them from closest to the Angostura flavor to the furthest.
1. Other Aromatic Bitters
Any aromatic bitters with clove, cinnamon and gentian notes is the closest match. Expect small flavor differences, but the drink stays balanced.
How: Use 1:1, dash for dash. Best in an Old Fashioned or Manhattan.
2. Peychaud's Bitters
Lighter and more floral, with anise and cherry notes and a red color. The classic bitters for a Sazerac.
How: Use 1:1, or add one extra dash for more depth. Great in rye and cognac drinks.
3. Orange Bitters
Bright, citrusy and a little spicy. It changes the drink's character but keeps the bitter backbone intact.
How: Use 1:1. Best in gin drinks, Martinis and whiskey sours.
4. Orange and Peychaud's Blend
Mixing half orange bitters and half Peychaud's gets surprisingly close to Angostura's spice, fruit and bitterness.
How: Use 1 dash of each to replace 2 dashes of Angostura.
5. Black Walnut Bitters
Nutty, woody and slightly bitter, which suits brown spirits and fall drinks.
How: Use 1:1. Best in an Old Fashioned or with aged rum.
6. Chocolate or Mole Bitters
Rich cocoa with warm spice, and mole versions add a gentle chili heat. Good with dark spirits.
How: Use 1:1. Best with bourbon, aged rum or mezcal.
7. Cherry Bitters
Fruity with a light bitter finish, it echoes the cherry garnish in many whiskey cocktails.
How: Use 1:1. Best in a Manhattan or a whiskey sour.
8. Cardamom or Spiced Bitters
Aromatic and warm, with the baking-spice notes that are a big part of the Angostura flavor.
How: Use 1:1. Best in rum, brandy and holiday drinks.
Substitutes When You Have No Bitters
No bitters in the house? Bitter liqueurs and spiced spirits are less concentrated, so you need more of them, and most are sweeter, so reduce the syrup or sugar in the recipe.
9. Amaro
Italian herbal liqueurs, from mild to quite bitter, bring the same herbal, bittersweet depth in a gentler form.
How: Use about 1/4 oz per 2 dashes of Angostura, and cut the syrup a little.
10. Allspice Dram
A rum-based allspice liqueur with clove, cinnamon and nutmeg flavors. Very close to Angostura's spice, but sweeter.
How: Use 1 bar spoon (about 1 teaspoon) per 2 dashes. Best in rum and tiki drinks.
11. Fernet
A very bitter, minty and herbal amaro. Strong enough that a small amount stands in for bitters.
How: Use 1 to 2 dashes or a bar spoon. Best in whiskey and rye drinks.
12. Campari
Bitter orange and herbs with a red color. It adds bitterness but brings more sweetness and color.
How: Use about 1/4 oz per 2 dashes. Best in gin and whiskey stirred drinks.
13. Aperol
Lighter, sweeter and more orange-forward than Campari, so it softens a drink rather than deepening it.
How: Use 1/4 to 1/2 oz and skip some sweetener. Best in spritzes and sours.
14. Absinthe Rinse
Anise and herbal aromatics, which mimic the floral side of Peychaud's more than Angostura.
How: Swirl about 1 teaspoon in the glass, discard the excess, then build the drink.
Alcohol-Free Option
15. Non-Alcoholic Bitters or a Spice Infusion
Glycerin-based non-alcoholic bitters work dash for dash. Or steep orange peel, a clove and a cinnamon stick in hot water.
How: Use NA bitters 1:1, or 1 teaspoon of a strong cooled spice infusion per 2 dashes.
Angostura Bitters Substitutes at a Glance
| Substitute | Amount to replace 2 dashes | Flavor | Best in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other aromatic bitters | 2 dashes | Closest match: spice, clove, gentian | Old Fashioned, Manhattan |
| Peychaud's bitters | 2 to 3 dashes | Lighter, anise, cherry | Sazerac, rye drinks |
| Orange bitters | 2 dashes | Bright citrus, mild spice | Martini, gin drinks |
| Orange + Peychaud's | 1 dash each | Spice, fruit, bitterness | Most whiskey drinks |
| Black walnut bitters | 2 dashes | Nutty, woody | Old Fashioned |
| Chocolate bitters | 2 dashes | Cocoa, warm spice | Bourbon, rum, mezcal |
| Amaro | About 1/4 oz | Herbal, bittersweet | Stirred whiskey drinks |
| Allspice dram | 1 bar spoon | Clove, cinnamon, sweet | Rum and tiki drinks |
| Campari | About 1/4 oz | Bitter orange, sweet | Gin and whiskey drinks |
| Non-alcoholic bitters | 2 dashes | Varies by brand | Mocktails |
What Does Angostura Bitters Taste Like?
Angostura aromatic bitters taste intensely bitter and spicy on their own, with clove, cinnamon, allspice and a dried-fruit, almost tea-like depth. Gentian root provides the bitterness, and the exact recipe is not public.
In a drink, a dash or two works like salt in cooking. It rounds out sweetness, ties the spirit and sugar together and adds aroma. That is why swaps that are bitter and spiced work best.
Substitutes That Don't Work Well
- Vanilla extract: adds sweetness and aroma but no bitterness, so the drink tastes flat and sugary.
- Coffee or strong tea: their bitterness is different and they dilute spirit-forward drinks like an Old Fashioned.
- Worcestershire sauce: it works in a Bloody Mary, but its savory, fishy notes clash with sweet cocktails.
- Lemon or lime juice: adds sourness, not bitterness, and changes the drink's balance completely.
How to Make Quick Homemade Aromatic Bitters
Homemade bitters will not taste exactly like Angostura, but they work in any recipe that calls for aromatic bitters. They take about two weeks to infuse, so I keep a jar going on a dark pantry shelf.
- Add to a clean jar: 1 cup high-proof vodka or overproof rum, 1 teaspoon dried gentian root, the peel of 1 orange (no white pith), 1 cinnamon stick, 4 cloves, 4 allspice berries and 3 cracked cardamom pods.
- Seal, store in a cool, dark place and shake once a day for 10 to 14 days. Taste from day 7.
- Strain through a fine sieve lined with cheesecloth, then stir in 1 teaspoon of rich simple syrup if you like a rounder flavor.
- Bottle in a dropper or dasher bottle. Thanks to the high alcohol, it keeps for a year or more at room temperature.
Alcohol-Free Mocktail: Soda, Lime and Spice
Angostura bitters contain 44.7% alcohol, so even a few dashes are not alcohol-free. For a zero-proof drink, fill a tall glass with ice, add the juice of half a lime and 1/2 oz simple syrup, top with chilled soda water and add 2 to 3 dashes of non-alcoholic aromatic bitters. Garnish with a lime wheel.
Drink Responsibly
Bitters, amaro, Campari and the other swaps above contain alcohol, and the cocktails they go into are for adults of legal drinking age (21 and over in the US). Please enjoy them responsibly.
Cocktails to Make With Your Bitters
Manhattan vs Old Fashioned
The two most famous Angostura cocktails compared, with the differences in spirit, sweetener and garnish.
Get the recipe →
Old Fashioned Mocktail
An alcohol-free take on the Old Fashioned, with orange, cherry and warm spice for guests who aren't drinking.
Get the recipe →
Rum Cocktails
A big list of rum cocktails, including tiki drinks where allspice dram or aromatic bitters really shine.
Get the recipe →
Gin Cocktails
Classic and modern gin cocktails, many of which welcome a dash of orange or aromatic bitters.
Get the recipe →Frequently Asked Questions
What can I use instead of Angostura bitters?
Use another aromatic bitters 1:1 for the closest match. Peychaud's or orange bitters also work 1:1, though they taste lighter and brighter. With no bitters at all, use about 1/4 oz of amaro or a bar spoon of allspice dram per 2 dashes, and reduce the sweetener a little.
Can I make an Old Fashioned without Angostura bitters?
Yes. Use orange bitters, Peychaud's, black walnut or chocolate bitters dash for dash. Without any bitters, a bar spoon of amaro or allspice dram adds the spice and bitterness. A drink with no bitters at all tastes flatter and sweeter, so cut the sugar slightly.
Can I use Aperol or Campari instead of bitters?
Yes, in small amounts. Use about 1/4 oz Campari or 1/4 to 1/2 oz Aperol to replace 2 dashes of bitters. Both are much sweeter and less concentrated than Angostura, so reduce the syrup in the recipe and expect a lighter, more orange-forward drink.
Is Peychaud's the same as Angostura bitters?
No. Both are aromatic bitters, but Peychaud's is lighter, sweeter and more floral, with anise and cherry notes and a bright red color. Angostura is darker, spicier and more bitter. They can replace each other 1:1, but the drink's flavor will shift.
Do Angostura bitters contain alcohol?
Yes. Angostura aromatic bitters are 44.7% alcohol by volume, about the same as many spirits. A few dashes add very little alcohol to a drink, but they are not alcohol-free. For mocktails, use glycerin-based non-alcoholic bitters or a spice infusion.
