Bitters 101: Everything You Need to Know About Cocktail Bitters

What are ANGOSTURA® bitters? How do you use them? Where did they come from? And what's up with that iconic oversized bottle label?
We answer all these questions and more in this Bitters 101 lesson. Join Greg Titian, host of the popular mixology channel How to Drink, to learn more about using cocktail bitters to blend and balance the perfect cocktail at your home bar. Watch him dash his way through the history, purpose and power of ANGOSTURA® bitters - a bartender's salt and pepper.
Greg's Channel: / howtodrink

[@tomseiple3280]

Here I was, thinking I was watching Greg's channel LOL. I got fooled! Glad y'all were able to partner with him!

[@SteveFullerBikes]

Same here. Best KZbin Infomercial I've seen in a long time.

[@khecidsdragons7777]

Same!

[@macdonmt]

Same! Great collaboration. Didn’t know these guys had other flavors.

[@musicluver7125]

The fact that the sound mixing was bad and the music was too loud was what tipped me off that this wasn't his normal channel

[@RedMeatWhiskeyNeat]

Same. You got me, Ango. Well played, y'all.

[@khecidsdragons7777]

Mix regular Angostura bitters into a serving of cheap vanilla ice cream and it will taste like higher quality vanilla.

[@jonahturner2969]

The script is a little rough, I wish you had given Greg some more flexibility

[@Blank12456]

To be fair, if he wasn't given a script he would likely bust out into song, talk about DnD, then go on a 3 minute diatribe about snl/80's movie

[@JaxMerrick]

@@Blank12456 Which is *why* you bring in Greg.

[@xSintex]

So...y'know, the whole point of watching him, instead of a random person?@@Blank12456

[@Scraz3r]

Fuck I bought these because the liqour store was closed amd Walmart was open

[@10-4-goodbuddy]

First time I've used Angostura bitters in champagne and omg...😲 it's a HUGE difference. Two words "delicious" and "perfect" 👍🏼

[@nylascotia6894]

I've been looking for an answer to what and why bitters matter for so long, thank-you for your channel!!!! Best cocktail channel on KZbin!

[@boreos3499]

No Hyperlink to How to Drink?

[@themountaintoppsychos916]

They got the @ plus I think Greg is the one giving their channel visibility not the other way around based on their subscriber count lol

[@adrianrafaelmagana804]

I hope angastora paid you handsomly for this video cause it's going to up their sales

[@minusthetext]

Like they need that. Get better bitters.

[@xander1052]

@@minusthetext I sense competition is afoot, bitters man

[@dunhillsupramk3]

they the only bitters around... they don't need to do this to up their sales...

[@dunhillsupramk3]

@@minusthetext better bitters??? they the only bitters... i've tasted a few start ups that say its bitters but its clearly not, even counterfeit stuff taste different... the ingredients is a trade secret but the process on how they make it is also a secret and only certain time of the yr they will actually bottle a batch...

[@xander1052]

@@dunhillsupramk3 So peychaud's don't exist now lmao

[@archionblu]

I like loose-script/no script Greg more than tightly scripted Greg :( but I'm glad you got to partner with such a prestigious brand

[@Broski6592]

How To Drink-since the channel isn't linked anywhere

[@geoffreyeljefe4544]

How to drink is a great channel!

[@artemis3120]

I gotta admit, I was straight bamboozled. I thought I was on HtD, but it's Angostura instead! Good to see Greg getting the business!

[@gutsandgrittv5076]

I LOVE Angostura bitters. I have been drinking them since I was little with ginger ale and now I drink them with anything I can think of!

[@chrisbauer1925]

Shots of Angostura bitters and Chocolate Angostura bitters are also great!

[@tl7535]

In a true cocktail (spirit, slightly diluted, slightly sweetened and bittered), in addition to accenting the flavor, bitters also works to mitigate the harsh ethanol nose of the liquor. This will not work with products labeled as bitters made without alcohol, such as Fee’s.

[@dialect64]

HowToDrink is the Brad Leonne (its alive!) of cocktails!

[@tims2406]

I believe that the advertisement shown at 2:00 is actually for C. W. Abbott's Angostura Bitters. Abbott lost the naming rights for Angostura in a lawsuit in 1908 and was forced to rename his product to Abbott's Aromatic Bitters.

[@DocRigel]

Thanks Greg and Angostura, HTD turned me on to the adult side of home drink making and it wouldn't be the same without Angostura.

[@michelefavaretto627]

You can find any flavour of bitters by now but, in the end, the best is always some good old Angostura

[@acfball]

Yay Greg

[@jasminewilliams6691]

I like making my old-fashioned with a bar spoon of granulated sugar and 8 dashes of bitters. It's a taste lol

[@chandaharkins4418]

I've always wondered about the weird label. Interesting!

[@m.rcl_]

That came by surprise. But I watched this advertisement with bliss.

[@robertsullivan4773]

😱 have hsve all three in my fridge. Just got the Coco bitters the other day after seeing you'll use it in a Manhattan. It was great.

[@BvkkakeShogun]

I think Greg had a drink or two before filming this and I don't blame him, great job bud and kudos on the big deal! 😭

[@CB-rv9kb]

Yup, looks like it

[@tyronesingh6714]

We used to sell the mace of the nutmeg to Angostura to make the bitters which is the magic ingredient..from our estate in Trinidad

[@nicksteele9436]

I thought this was the how to drink man! Though TBH this is the right video for me as I've just bought the orange and chocolate bitters from Amazon and I'm waiting for them to arrive.

[@_Brohan]

This wasn't a 101 class, it was an ad. Here I was wanting to learn about the different flavors and what to do with them.

[@artemis3120]

Well, it literally is an ad from Angostura. It's their channel, and was really surprised I wasn't on HtD! Personally, I'm alright getting a bit of history and seeing Greg get some cash for his time. Gotta support the people we like to watch.

[@ibrewalot]

Hmmmmm....I kiiiiiinda wanted to hear about others too (Peychauds, Walnut, etc). Still good (as usual) nonetheless.

[@kinagrill]

I just tried to do a honey-whiskey cocktail. ice cube, some basic honey whiskey and some Gammel Dansk Bitter Dram... and it works well if you let the ice cube melt a bit into it. No suggar, not garnish. just a simple thing and it got the herbal flavors of the Gammel Dansk, along with the honeynotes and whiskey taste of the Honey Whiskey. I guess I can mix a custom old-fashioned, Danish Style XD

[@MrDowntownLA]

Bitters are one of the most expensive and highest proof liquors in a bar. I’ve been able to get a shot glass of bitters from a “bartender” for a buck. TK

[@dunhillsupramk3]

chances are thats not real bitters, no one will drink bitters raw like that... if you did you would've been blowing up your toilet for a week..

[@MrDowntownLA]

@@dunhillsupramk3 Ever try bitters ? Nothing like shot of bitters in a Bloody Mary.

[@ianhillman4007]

Best explanation yet. Thank you. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🍻

[@shermanthompson871]

Go Greg!

[@thomasmendoza7728]

The chad Greg

[@lawnmower16]

Came here to see wtf a "dash" is. Will be subscribing and returning!

[@marceltougas6574]

Great video; informative and entertaining. However, I still have a question that I'd hope you could answer; Does adding bitters enhance a spirits specific flavour profile, does it add a missing nuances to a cocktail or...does it do both?

[@gaviswayze9696]

Please tell me there's going to be a follow-up video on how to make bitters (either on this channel or on HTD)

[@gudea5207]

Why would they? it’s a bitters commercial.

[@michealjackson500]

Liked for Greg!

[@PoRRasturvaT]

Greg's not spilling everywhere?!

[@piratewhoisquiet]

House of Ango collab with Greg from H2D???!!! And I didn't KNOW???!!!

[@Brock_Friesenborg]

I like how greg has absolutely littered his set with bitters. He replaced his chartreuse with a bottle of angostura lol.

[@jamesburgess6454]

Ha! Good eye. I love that.

[@ciroweinstein8627]

How much is it suposed to cost?

[@EmpiresandCocktails]

My name is Sir Ricky Bobby. I'm a lot like bitters; the perfect addition to any dinner party.

[@tobygreen6010]

Great video!

[@josephbenson6301]

Ahhh... I love angostura bitters - the essential part of my non-cocktail of diet Pepsi & orange juice AND the history was interesting. But, Greg, I felt a bit deceived. This was clearly a commercial for the product and not an episode about bitters.

[@CurtF94]

The first one was £2.50 in one supermarket here and £11 in another

[@adam346]

One brother to the other: "You idiot, you got the wrong size label!" Other brother: "Just roll with it... if anyone asks us, it was deliberate!"

[@izaiahmascarich8351]

I just wanna know if Regans orange bitters is ok in a Bloody Mary

[@SS-yw7vo]

Love your videos but this was hard to watch with the background music

[@ARTEMIX888]

Bokers bitter pog!

[@gtenhave]

How do I recreate crodino with syrup and bitters?? :)

[@MarkusJevring]

Hey, I'm happy you made this, because it's informative, but it was a bit too scripted. It felt like you were just reading ad copy, which you likely were. Nothing wrong with that in theory, but it was very unlike your other stuff.

[@baijokull]

So how do I make them?

[@N1D95]

So much information, rich history

[@chadglannister1633]

GREEEG

[@avichalmurab2864]

For how long Angoostra bitters can be stored after opening the bottle?

[@christiancina5875]

I have one opened for about a year now, still good. Its high in aocohol, should have an almost eternal shelf life

[@avichalmurab2864]

@@christiancina5875 thanks :)

[@dunhillsupramk3]

maybe 100yrs??? or more???

[@drawingablankesq]

Wait. I recognize thst music st 1:00. Is that moon hooch?

[@abel5925]

Is it coconut butters or cocoa chocolate?

[@michaelmaultsby895]

What about Peychaud's bitters?

[@AlexR2648]

They aren't exactly going to give their competitor a shout-out

[@Olordrin]

What about the competition to the product this channel is entirely about? :D :D

[@publiuszero79]

I'm more bitters forward and like 4 dashes in Old Fashioned's & coffee

[@brandonwoller]

How do you do the lighting for the cocktail class?

[@RainbowFishSaysHello]

I found this while searching “how to open bitters”. The video didn’t help, but it was entertaining. And the answer turned out to be scissors 😅

[@TheM17691]

Best of butters brought me here

[@Alec_Collins78]

Does an old fashioned usually have added water?

[@Quintinohthree]

In the form of ice, melting and diluting into the drink as it is stirred and cools, yes, certainly.

[@Alec_Collins78]

@@Quintinohthree A dash of water is often listed as an ingredient.

[@Quintinohthree]

@@Alec_Collins78 When using granulated sugar rather than simple syrup, some water may be useful to make a crude syrup before adding bitters, spirit and ice which all reduce the solubility of sugar. When using simple syrup of course the water is inside the syrup.

[@eredruin]

I was just about to complain about how obviosly sponsor written the script was and then I noticed the channel ...

[@David-mg8zu]

Promotion and advertisement, not genuine educational content. Greg said: “You can’t make a classic cocktail without Angustura aromatic bitters!” Oh really? And What about a Tom Collins, a Martini, a Sidecar, a Negroni, a Sazerac, a Sherry Cobbler, a Mint Julep, a Daiquiri, a French 75, a Mojito, a Gimlet, or a Margarita? Just to mention some of the most classic and oldest cocktails in history. Or these are not classic enough for you? You should probably do some research first before telling people untrue facts. Because some people may actually believe them. The title is also deceiving: “Everything you need to know about cocktail bitters.” All Greg is doing is trying to sell us Angustura products and trying to make them look like they were the first and only genuine cocktail bitters available, when in reality they were clearly not. There’s nothing wrong with promotion, if done well and genuinely. When you clearly point out what the content is about, and not trying to make it look like it is an educational video by a cocktail influencer. When you showcase the quality of your great product instead of using untrue claims. I love Angustura bitters, but hate their marketing. Guys, you are better than this.

[@Quintinohthree]

You see, clasically, all the drinks you mention are in fact not cocktails. Cocktail was just a category of mixed drink, comprising spirits, sugar, water and bitters, nothing more or less.

[@johnolmos8670]

I got Angostura cocoa bitters and was horrified that they contained Glycerin

[@sn99cobra]

Greg you are way to quick with the continuous "this is a commercial" cough.

[@guxit]

Feels a bit weird to hear Greg so clearly reading from a rigid script 😅

[@xander1052]

I think my bottle of angostura has died lol, still got the aroma but no bitterness :P

[@griftingnightmares]

It's so weird, why doesn't Amazon sell the Cocoa Bitters?

[@ReadySetRum]

It’s new on the market. I can only find it in one Walmart in my area.

[@nicolamontoro]

Great video. Thanks Kevin James with brown hair. LOL

[@Ajbarili]

So are you telling me How to Drink bitters?

[@santallum]

I can't see the cocoa one having much flavour .. The flavour of pure cocoa isn't exactly the strongest flavour in the world

[@warsteiner2185]

Anyone else recognize the ChocoTaco theme music ? lol

[@marcult2594]

So all these people with degrees in food science can’t create bitters?

[@tchevrier]

omg!!! did you use syrup.??

[@itsmederek1]

Oh its a commercial

[@nlavigne92292]

This came across as a commercial

[@ObsoleteTutorials]

lol he lost half the dash to bouncing off the ice

[@fantasyflare]

Great production but for not giving this a proper title like "Everything you want to know about ANGOSTURA bitters" I reward you an epic thumbs down.

[@Keishy_1]

🇹🇹

[@fergusmccarthy7736]

Love your channel but that was some grade A hooring of a product without saying that's what you were doing., 🙄

[@patricktaylor9142]

its not his channel tho DX

[@Olordrin]

@@patricktaylor9142 Don't confuse him with facts.

[@bradleycaffee4253]

I disapprove of his process in making an Old Fashioned.

[@pmignini1]

I appreciate the lesson but was disappointed that it was so brand-centric. Yes, they deserve props as the originator but the story has expanded in recent years. As you well know, these days there are many reputable, flavorful brands of bitters. You spoke as if Angostura was the only game in town. No comments on how Peychaud's, Bitter Truth et al round out the options?

[@Pretagonist]

Dude, this is an angostura commercial on the angostura channel. You don't usually plug your competitors on your own media outlets. If you watch the regular how to drink channel you'll see plenty of non sponsored bitter recommendations.

[@mixing3698]

Honestly the dude above hit all key points for ya bud😂

[@Quintinohthree]

@@Pretagonist If you look closely you will see one other brand of bitters shown in the video, one with which Angostura had a massive legal fight with over their branding as well.

[@PlumbusPete]

So what is it just bitter shit,like what does it actually fucking do

[@miksologia]

Oh this sucks... so scripted it hurts my brain. Please, never again.