What are the best non-alcoholic bitters and where to find them?

Bitters occupy a paradoxical position in NA mixology: classic cocktail bitters like Angostura contain 44-50% alcohol but are used in such tiny quantities (2-3 dashes = 1-1.5 ml) that the alcohol contribution to a 200ml cocktail is effectively negligible (less than 0.05% ABV). Most zero-proof purists and NA bar programs use traditional bitters without issue, while strict zero-alcohol events require true NA alternatives.

Scrappy's Zero Proof Bitters: Launched by Seattle's Scrappy's Bitters, available in Cardamom and Lime varieties. Uses vegetable glycerin as the solvent instead of alcohol. Slightly thicker consistency than traditional bitters, flavors are excellent, complex and genuine. Limited European distribution, best ordered online. Price: ~€18-22 per bottle.

DIY Glycerite Bitters (recommended for European market): Soak 5g dried gentian root + 5g dried orange peel + 3g cardamom pods + 2g cinnamon chips in 100ml food-grade vegetable glycerin + 50ml water for 2 weeks, shaking daily. Strain through cheesecloth, then coffee filter. Result: a highly aromatic, sweet-bitter concentrate. Usage: 3-4 drops per cocktail (slightly more than alcohol-based bitters as glycerol extracts more slowly). Cost: under €5 per 150ml batch.

Fee Brothers Bitters: Some Fee Brothers products are alcohol-based at a lower ABV (~35%), not zero-proof but lower. Their Black Walnut and Rhubarb bitters are exceptional flavor profiles rarely replicated in NA versions.

The essential bitters for a zero-proof home bar: aromatic (Angostura-style), orange (for citrus cocktails), and a floral or herbal variant. Zeroproof.one provides DIY glycerite recipes for 8 essential bitters profiles tailored to zero-proof cocktail making in Belgium.

Are there alcohol-free bitters that work as well as traditional Angostura?

Non-alcoholic bitters typically rely on glycerine or vegetable-based carriers instead of high-proof alcohol. The global NA bitters market was valued at 48 million USD in 2023 and is projected to grow at 18% CAGR through 2028 (Mordor Intelligence, 2024), driven by the home cocktail and sober-curious bar segments.

The short answer is: for aromatic complexity yes, for the exact flavor profile no. Traditional Angostura bitters are 44.7% ABV, which acts as both a solvent and a preservative for the gentian root, bark and spice infusion. Alcohol-free bitters replicate the flavor compounds using glycerin as a carrier (which adds a slight sweetness) or water-glycerin blends. The Fee Brothers range uses glycerin-water bases and performs well in Sours and Highballs. Hella Cocktail Co. makes zero-proof bitters specifically tested for mocktail applications. The practical tradeoff: glycerin-based bitters are slightly less volatile (aromas develop more slowly in the glass), making them better suited to stirred NA drinks than shaken foam cocktails where aromatic lift is immediate. At 0.3-0.5ml per drink, their sweetness contribution from glycerin is negligible.

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