Angostura
Angostura is a Trinidad and Tobago-based brand best known worldwide for its aromatic bitters, a concentrated flavoring agent that has become an essential component in classic cocktails for well over a century. The company also produces a respected line of rums, drawing on the Caribbean's deep sugarcane and molasses distilling heritage.
Founded in 1824 by Dr. Johann Gottlieb Benjamin Siegert, a German-born physician, the House of Angostura originated in Venezuela before relocating operations to Trinidad. Today the brand is recognized globally for its distinctive oversized paper label and the iconic yellow-capped bottle of aromatic bitters found in bars and home kitchens alike.
Angostura is a Trinidad and Tobago-based brand best known worldwide for its aromatic bitters, a concentrated flavoring agent that has become an essential component in classic cocktails for well over a century.
Read more about Angostura
Angostura is a Trinidad and Tobago-based brand best known worldwide for its aromatic bitters, a concentrated flavoring agent that has become an essential component in classic cocktails for well over a century. The company also produces a respected line of rums, drawing on the Caribbean's deep sugarcane and molasses distilling heritage.
Founded in 1824 by Dr. Johann Gottlieb Benjamin Siegert, a German-born physician, the House of Angostura originated in Venezuela before relocating operations to Trinidad. Today the brand is recognized globally for its distinctive oversized paper label and the iconic yellow-capped bottle of aromatic bitters found in bars and home kitchens alike.
History and Origins
Angostura aromatic bitters were created by Dr. Johann Gottlieb Benjamin Siegert, a surgeon general who developed the formula in the town of Angostura (now Ciudad Bolívar) in Venezuela. Originally intended as a medicinal tonic to aid digestion and appetite, the bitters gradually found their way into the world of cocktails and mixology.
The company later moved its base of operations to Trinidad, where the House of Angostura remains headquartered. The precise recipe for the bitters is famously guarded and, according to the company, is known to only a small number of people, contributing to the brand's longstanding mystique.
Over its long history, Angostura has expanded beyond bitters into rum production, becoming one of the most prominent spirits producers in Trinidad and Tobago and a widely exported Caribbean brand.
Products and House Style
The brand's flagship product is Angostura aromatic bitters, a high-proof, intensely flavored blend built around gentian root and a proprietary mix of botanicals and spices. It is used by the dash to add depth, complexity, and balance to cocktails such as the Old Fashioned, Manhattan, and Champagne Cocktail.
Angostura also produces orange bitters and, in some markets, other flavored bitters, expanding the toolkit available to bartenders and home enthusiasts. Because bitters are dosed in small amounts, a single bottle lasts a long time despite frequent use.
On the rum side, Angostura offers a range of expressions spanning lighter mixing rums to aged sipping rums. These reflect the Caribbean tradition of distilling from molasses and aging in oak, with the specific character varying by expression and age.
Buying and Serving Tips
Aromatic bitters are a pantry staple that keeps well thanks to their high alcohol content, so a standard bottle is a smart long-term purchase for anyone building a home bar. For most cocktails, only a few dashes are needed, making bitters one of the most cost-effective ways to elevate a drink.
When shopping, consider pairing Angostura aromatic bitters with a bottle of the brand's orange bitters to cover the two most commonly called-for varieties in classic cocktail recipes. If you enjoy sipping spirits, exploring the aged rum expressions offers a different side of the brand's Caribbean roots.
Store bitters and rum upright in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight and heat to preserve flavor. LiquorStoreNearMe.com ships nationwide, making it convenient to stock both the bitters and the rums for your home bar.