Chocolate Bitters

How are Chocolate Bitters made?

Chocolate bitters start with a neutral grain spirit base that's infused with real cacao nibs, cocoa beans, or dark chocolate along with complementary botanicals like vanilla, cinnamon, or orange peel. The mixture steeps for several weeks, allowing the alcohol to extract the rich chocolate compounds and aromatic oils from the ingredients. After straining and filtering, the concentrated liquid is often aged briefly to marry the flavors before bottling at the standard 35-45% ABV that makes bitters so potent and long-lasting.

How do you drink Chocolate Bitters?

Chocolate bitters aren't meant to be consumed neat or in shots—they're a cocktail ingredient designed to add complexity and depth to mixed drinks with just a few dashes. You'll find them shining in whiskey-based cocktails like Old Fashioneds and Manhattans, where they complement the spirit's natural vanilla and caramel notes, or in rum cocktails where they add rich, cocoa undertones. These bitters work particularly well in fall and winter cocktails when you want something warming and indulgent, making them perfect for holiday entertaining or cozy nights by the fireplace.

How do I choose good Chocolate Bitters?

Look for chocolate bitters that balance cocoa intensity with complementary spices - Fee Brothers offers a classic milk chocolate profile, while Aztec Chocolate Bitters brings heat with chili peppers, and Woodford Reserve delivers rich dark chocolate notes with vanilla undertones. Your cocktail choice should guide your selection: lighter chocolate bitters work beautifully in whiskey sours and Manhattan variations, while bold, spiced versions shine in aged rum cocktails and tequila-based drinks where they can stand up to stronger base spirits. Always taste your bitters straight first - a good chocolate bitter should remind you of quality dark chocolate without being overly sweet, and just a few dashes should noticeably change your drink's character.

Nutritional Information

Typical Calorie Range per Ounce: 8-15 calories

Typical Carbohydrate Range per Ounce: 1-3 grams

Typical Sugar Range per Ounce: 0.5-2 grams

Typically Gluten Free: Yes

While chocolate bitters are generally gluten-free, ingredients and manufacturing processes can vary between brands. Always check the detailed product information and labeling to confirm gluten-free status, especially if you have celiac disease or severe gluten sensitivity. Some manufacturers may process their products in facilities that also handle gluten-containing ingredients.

Scrolled this far? Your reward? Chocolate Bitters Trivia!

1. The first chocolate bitters were actually created as medicine in 1865 by a German pharmacist who believed combining cacao with medicinal herbs would cure digestive ailments. He sold his "Bitter Chocolate Elixir" door-to-door until bartenders started sneaking it into whiskey drinks, discovering it made everything taste incredible.
2. Chocolate bitters contain zero actual chocolate or cocoa powder. Instead, they get their rich, chocolatey flavor from a secret blend of spices like cassia bark, gentian root, and vanilla bean that naturally mimic chocolate's complex flavor profile without any dairy or sugar.
3. During Prohibition, chocolate bitters sales skyrocketed because they were classified as "medicinal tonics" and sold legally in pharmacies. Bootleggers would buy cases of chocolate bitters to mask the harsh taste of bathtub gin, leading to the creation of dozens of classic cocktails we still drink today.
4. The world's most expensive chocolate bitters cost $180 per bottle and are aged for three years in used bourbon barrels. Only 500 bottles are made annually by a small distillery in Vermont, and each bottle is hand-numbered and signed by the master distiller.
5. Professional bartenders can distinguish between 12 different brands of chocolate bitters in blind taste tests, but here's the kicker: when mixed into cocktails, even experts struggle to tell them apart. The magic happens in how they interact with other ingredients, not their standalone flavor.