Angostura is the most classic Bitter, so it just seemed right to start the category with this legend. The usual way to analyze & review a Bitter is to add a few drops to sparkling water. I will also try it neat, to measure its potency & to have a fuller perspective on it. Due to the secretly guarded ingredients, there’s not a lot of room for a biased opinion here, because practically no one really knows what is inside Angostura Aromatic Bitters.
“A truly great Bitter…”
Aromatic Bitters
Produced by: Angostura Ltd
Type: Aromatic Bitters
Region: Port of Spain, Trinidad, Trinidad & Tobago
ABV: 44.7%
Herbs: Probably.. Gentian Flowers, Brown Sugar, Orange Zest, Dried Orange Peel, Vanilla, Cloves, Juniper Berries, Cinnamon, Anise, Cocoa, Cassia, Orris Root & many more secretively kept ingredients.
Base: High-Proof Spirit
Appearance: 9/10
Angostura comes in the recognizable small brown bottle with the bright yellow cap & the oversized label. It has a drop counter fitted inside the neck, making it perfect for adding dashes of it. There’s little information on the label in regards to the product itself, more on the history behind it. The neat glass has a reddish-brown colour almost identical to light soy sauce. From the slow fall of the very large legs, I’m able to say that it seems highly viscous, almost oily. The diluted glass offers more of a light, pinkish orange. Of course the result will vary following different concentrations. The more diluted the paler it will be. I poured the water after the bitters so a nice dense, nearly fluorescent orange head forms, lasting for a few seconds before leaving an impressive lacing.
Nose: 14.5/15
The nose of the neat glass has richer notes, close to caramel, dried fruits, warm spices & earthy tones. With further analysis I get some molasses, anise seed, cloves, burnt orange peel & dried cherries. The ethanol is quite strong & paired with the potent mixture, the aromas are hard to discern effectively. This is nonetheless a nice way to gain more perspective on the bitter. As for the nose in the diluted glass, it is much more delicate. I get notes of dried flowers, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, potpourri along with lemon & orange peel. I now see how it can be a perfect match in some cocktails such as the Old Fashioned.
Mouth: 12.5/15
The neat version is intense with a million sensations at the same time. There’s a bit of heat from the ethanol as well as some spiciness similar to cinnamon hearts. There’s also a hint of saltiness & umami along with a powerful bitterness to complement the set. It is full-bodied with a medium sweet palate. The texture is very viscous, as suspected on the appearance analysis. In terms of flavours, I don’t seem to be able to detect anything specific due to the intensity of the mouthfeel. It looks like a lot of different flavour families play together in this bottle. There’s some woody, spicy & earthy notes as well as a caramelized, burnt aspect. I also get a faint floral & fruity trait, but it seems so subtle, I can’t make sure. The diluted version is way more pleasant to try. The same notes as those perceived on the nose follow through such as cinnamon, cloves, anise, nutmeg, orange peel & potpourri. There’s also something else that I know I’ve already tasted but can’t seem to put my finger on it. It lands along the lines of Jamaican allspice, ginger & Green Alder pepper. The mouthfeel is far less aggressive with only a mild bitterness, which is much more tolerable, as well as a faint saltiness. The palate is less expressive & complex than the nose.
Finish: 9/10
As expected, the finish is infinite, especially for the undiluted glass. It ends on black pepper, cinnamon, cloves & cranberries as well as floral & earthy notes. The bitterness can be off-putting, even diluted, even for a Bitter.
Overall: 90/100
A truly great Bitter, no wonder it has made its way into every bar cabinet like salt in a kitchen. It’s very fragrant as well as strongly bitter, everything it claims to be. The aromas & flavours render it perfect with bourbon, rum & gin cocktails. I can’t recommend enough to add this bottle to your bar if it hasn’t already been done.
3-word Description:
Aromatic, Bitter & Spicy
The Reference:
More information @angosturabitters.com
Most of the ingredients have been revealed by people visiting the
facilities.
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