If you’ve sought out alcoholic options at bars, you might be familiar with the popular concept of bitters and soda, lovingly referred to by some as “bits and bubs.” In almost all cases, this drink will fall under the US legal definition of non-alcoholic (containing 0.5% of alcohol or less) because servings of bitters are usually measured in very small amounts, often referred to as dashes. However, tradition bitters themselves are often quite high in alcohol, so mixing them into a cocktail using other ingredients which contain 0.5% can actually tip you over the top, especially if you’re using quite a few dashes. Enter non-alcoholic bitters. There are currently three brands that I am aware of making alcohol-free bitters, represented below (please let me know if you hear of others!). Usually, this calls for a glycerin base and sometimes measures is a little different (be sure to refer to the bottle or website when trying something new) as well as a thicker consistency. Though we tasted several of each brand, we did not taste each flavor they offer, either for budgetary reasons, or time restrictions, but know that featuring these flavors doesn’t in any way reflect on the other flavors. We hope to taste them in time for the next guide update! In all cases, we tasted (and enjoyed) the bitters simply mixed with soda water, which we felt was a testament to their quality. Non-alcoholic bitters make a wonderful addition to an NA or alcoholic cocktail.
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All The Bitter
Ian and Carly Blessing make up the husband and wife duo behind All The Bitter. They met when both were working as sommeliers at The French Laundry, and chose to stop drinking after having children. Initially, their desire was to create bitters to mimic classic flavors so that they could recreate traditional cocktails, but they have just begun to launch their experimental series, with barrel-aged versions of some of their originals as well as new flavors they have built from scratch.
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All The Bitter Aromatic Bitters
This is their spin on Angostura bitters, which we found to be a little less harsh than the original, which we liked, but it still hit all the right notes. It was delicious at the most basic level, in soda, and perfect for mixing.
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All The Bitter New Orleans Style Bitters
This bitter is a take on Peychaud’s bitters, which you might know as a very important ingredient in a Sazerac. All The Bitter’s version is subtle and perfect.
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All The Bitter Orange Bitters
The orange bitters are another staple at bars everywhere. This one is a little spicy and lightly sour, we found it delicious.
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All The Bitter Aged Aromatic Bitters
Thanks to the amazing generosity of Ian and Carly, we were able to sample this barrel-aged version of the aromatic bitters (as well as the new flavor below). We found it to be so rich and deep in flavor, the kind of thing you’d want to make the star of a drink. If you can find this one in stock, do not hesitate to purchase.
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All The Bitter Lavender Chamomile Bitters
This is the first flavor from All The Bitter that doesn’t call on a classic for reference. Lavender is always a tricky ingredient to work with, but this one is perfectly balanced. There is enough lavender, but it doesn’t skate anywhere near soap territory. It’s slightly sweet, nuanced, and perfect to drink straight, add to lemonade or a NA French 75.
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Mullin
It could not be easier to mull wine than with this set of tea bag like sachets, filled with mulling spices. Use one per cup of wine, steep for three minutes, and drink. I found the flavor to be orange peel forward with a light sweetness and some nice spice notes.
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Dram
Dram is also owned by a husband and wife duo, Shae and Brady. They are based in Colorado and make and sell switchels, syrup, body products, herbal sparkling waters, and CBD products in addition to their non-alcoholic bitters. One of our panelists was impressed by Dram because they felt that it was always possible to taste every flavor they name.
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Dram Palo Santo Bitters
We found these bitters to have almost a tonic flavor, but with slightly less sweetness. There were nice warming spices that weren’t overpowering and lovely vanilla notes that softened some of the herbal edges.
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Dram Hair of the Dog Aromatic Bitters
We loved the fennel forward, yet delicate nature of these bitters.
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Dram Black Bitters
This had a long, lingering taste which we found warming and complex.
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El Guapo
El Guapo is owned by Christa Cotton and is based in New Orleans. They manufacture syrups, and mixers in addition to bitters. Each product is non-alcoholic. One thing we liked about this brand was the ability to order subscriptions or mix and match value packs. El Guapo also has a more traditional dasher top, rather than a dropper.
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El Guapo Fuego Bitters
We found this to have perfectly adjustable spice and a lovely balance with a subtle sweetness. It made our panel want chips and salsa, and we thought it might actually be a nice addition to pico de gallo.
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El Guapo Polynesian Kiss Bitters
These are perfect tiki bitters with all the tropical notes you would want. They are subtly sweet.
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El Guapo Chicory Pecan Bitters
These have a toasted flavor with a little bit of coffee. We felt that while this would be at home in an Old Fashioned, it would also be great in a warm drink.
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El Guapo Cuban Bitters
This is their take on orange bitters. We found that it had almost a tea flavor and thought it would be perfect for a summer cocktail like a margarita.
