Review: Angostura Cocoa Bitters

Review: Angostura Cocoa Bitters

Although Angostura makes a line of orange bitters, it’s best known for its iconic, eponymous aromatic bitters, a paper-wrapped bottle which no bar should be without. Now the Angostura bitters line expands to a whopping 3 expressions, with the launch of Angostura Cocoa Bitters.

These bitters are made with Trinitario cocoa which is grown on the islands of Trinidad & Tobago where Angostura makes all its bitters. The cocoa is combined with a “bespoke blend of herbs, spices, and botanicals” to create the finished product.

And it’s quite a delight, deftly balancing the pungent bitterness — slightly pruny, slightly winey — of Angostura’s aromatic bitters with a slick of cocoa on top. It has that distinct note not of chocolate sauce or chocolate candy but rather cocoa powder. As the cocoa fades, those wine-heavy notes come more into focus, with a significant raisin character and some vanilla lingering on the conclusion. Versatile and expressive, this is a solid and balanced product that can sub in for aromatic bitters any time you want to give your cocktail a chocolaty kick. Pick some up.

96 proof.

A / $9 per 4 oz bottle / angosturabitters.com

Angostura Cocoa Bitters

$9
9.5

Rating

9.5/10

Christopher Null is the founder and editor in chief of Drinkhacker. A veteran writer and journalist, he also operates Null Media, a bespoke content creation company.

1 Comment

  1. Eli on November 4, 2020 at 3:02 pm

    I am curious how this would influence a white russian.
    I like white russians, but they can be a bit sweet for my palate ar times and traditional bitters do not go well with them, but cocoa bitters seem like they would.

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