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.

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