Looking for the perfect recipes that use both gin and bitters? We have discovered you! This list of the 5 classic cocktail recipes of gin and Angostura Bitters is a must try. The complex spicy flavors of Angostura Bitters, which include hints of cinnamon and cloves, and the rich citrus and juniper of a good artisan gin are combinations made in paradise!
Honestly, we're a bit obsessed with Angostura Bitters, so much so that we sent some of them to craft Gin Club members in their Box of Gin for the month of September 2021. It works so well with gin and, as any bartender, mixologist or cocktail connoisseur will tell you, it is an ingredient without which no cocktail menu would be the same.
Try the 5 fabulous classic gin and bitter cocktail recipes below and you'll know exactly what we mean.
Gin rosa
One of the first gin-based cocktails, Pink Gin was invented in the 1800s when British Navy sailors added a pinch of Angostura Aromatic Bitters to their gin rations. Not only did it improve the taste of poor-quality gin, but bitters were thought to cure stomach problems. Deep red bitters turned gin into a beautiful shade of pink and Pink Gin was born.
In this recipe, the spicy tones of the bitters are deliciously paired with the fresh and refreshing notes of the artisanal London Dry Gin. This cocktail is traditionally finished with a touch of citrus peel, but we recommend trying it with cherries, the spice is a delicious match for fleshy berries!
- 50ml London Dry Gin
- 2 gocce Angostura Aromatic Bitters
- Peel of citrus or cherries, to garnish
Add the gin and bitter to a glass full of ice and stir. Garnish and taste!
Gin Sour
Like Pink Gin, Gin Sour has its own routes in the history of the navel. Since scurvy was a serious problem for sailors, doctors prescribed citrus juice to keep the disease at bay. Sailors added juice to their gin rations and that's how Gimlet came into the world, thought to be the "original" acid (you can find our Gimlet recipe in thislink).
Gin Sour is a more evolved version of Gimlet, which adds egg whites and Angostura Aromatic Bitters to that much-loved mix of gin and citrus juice. The egg adds a luxuriously creamy foam, and the bitters add a delicious complexity that makes this cocktail completely more inviting.
- 50 ml gin 25 ml lemon or lime juice
- 3 gocce di Angostura Aromatic Bitters
- 1 egg white
Shake the gin, citrus juice and egg whites without ice (this is known as a "dry shake") for about 30 seconds. Add the ice and shake well until it has cooled. Strain into the glass and let the foam form and settle. Add three drops of bitters to the top of the foam. Enjoy!
Martinez
Thought to be a precursor to the classic Martini we know and love today, the Martinez is a sumptuous mix of gin, sweet vermouth, Maraschino cherry liqueur and Angostura Aromatic Bitters. This classic cocktail finds that perfect balance between sweet, dry and spicy notes that will never fail to bring a smile to the face of any gin lover or cocktail connoisseur.
- 50ml of gin 25 ml of sweet vermouth
- 10 ml luxardo maraschino liqueur
- 1 goccio di Angostura Aromatic Bitters
- Twist of orange or cherry peel, to garnish
Add all the ingredients in a shaker full of ice and stir for 30 seconds. Strain into a coupe or martini glass, garnish and enjoy your meal!
Gin Old Fashioned
The Old Fashioned is perhaps one of the most famous cocktails to use bitters on this list. Traditionally made with bourbon whiskey, Gin Old Fashion replaces whiskey with gin. We recommend using a barrel-aged gin like Chemist Barrel Rested Gin in this recipe, its complex notes of juniper, rose, oak, caramel and vanilla work so well with the spices of bitters.
- 50 ml of gin aged in barrels 1
- teaspoon of simple syrup
- 2 gocce di Angostura Aromatic Bitters
- Orange and cherry peel, to garnish
Mix the gin, plain syrup and bitter with lots of ice and then strain into a rock glass filled with ice. Enjoy!
Gin slingshot
This popular style of gin cocktail is refreshing, sparkling and truly versatile. One of its most famous variants is the Singapore Sling, invented by Ngiam Tong Boon at the Raffles Hotel in Singapore in 1915, you can find the recipe for that tropical cocktail recipe here. The following recipe is the quintessence of Gin Sling, made with a simple but tantalizing mix of gin, citrus juice, bitters, simple syrup and tonic or carbonated water. It's a really refreshing gin and bitter cocktail, perfect to sip in the summer and it's just as delicious at any other time of the year.
- 60 ml gin 30 ml lemon juice
- 20 ml of simple syrup
- 2 gocce di Angostura Aromatic Bitters
- Tonic water or soda
- To garnish Slice of lemon and Sprig of rosemary (optional)
Shake the gin, lemon juice, bitter and syrup with plenty of ice. Strain into a glass filled with more ice, garnish with soda or tonic water, garnish and serve.