Angostura bitters

Does anyone know anywhere in the neighborhood that sells these bitters? I have a friend who has been searching all around to no avail. The shortage persists?

Normally Key Food would sell it, but if there actually is a shortage I blame the explosion of retro cocktail bars.

Key food on 5th has them. Isle 10 I think next to the margarita and bloody mary mix. Saw them on Sunday


I am now making my own infused simple syrups, lemon and ginger

Yep, Key Food. Also, I'd guess Union Market and Fairway for sure.

Is it true that bitters are poisonous if you were to drink a whole bunch of bitters? What is bitters?

I believe all the liquor store have it. Definitely Sterling Grapes and Grains on 5th ave across from Key Foods and the places on 7th ave

As far as I know the worldwide shortage of Angostura continues:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/19/AR2010011900877.html

Fee brothers do a huge range of interesting bitters. The whiskey barrel aged ones are pretty hard to find though.

Don't remember what kind they had, but Brooklyn Larder had several bitters options last time I was there.

Bierkraft and Grab might be worth calling if the grocery stores don't have it.

sir_eccles wrote: As far as I know the worldwide shortage of Angostura continues:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/19/AR2010011900877.html

Fee brothers do a huge range of interesting bitters. The whiskey barrel aged ones are pretty hard to find though.

Wow strange, I've never had a problem finding them, of course it's not something you run out of every month.

Look for Fee Brothers 10 times better than Angostura.

OpossumQueen wrote: Bierkraft and Grab might be worth calling if the grocery stores don't have it.

Pretty sure Grab has it. I think that's where I got mine, though as Mamacita said, it isn't something you run out of often so my memory might be wrong...

I've been on the same bottle since 1964. I think the bottle was in my family since the old country. For the person who asked what bitters is, the truth is no one knows. It seems to be vegetable extracts or herbs... perhaps bark. And alcohol. It's good for the tummy, which is why I recommend everyone drink lots of Manhattans.

Bay River and Slope Cellars have em

Thanks so much, everyone! I will let you know what I find out.

Mamacita wrote: [quote=sir_eccles]As far as I know the worldwide shortage of Angostura continues:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/19/AR2010011900877.html

Fee brothers do a huge range of interesting bitters. The whiskey barrel aged ones are pretty hard to find though.

Wow strange, I've never had a problem finding them, of course it's not something you run out of every month.

Look for Fee Brothers 10 times better than Angostura.
Fee Brothers are great, but not really a substitute for Angustura. I've got about a half dozen of the Fee Brothers bitters, and while they can make a fine cocktai, nothing tastes like Angustura except Angustura.

Kind of like substituting worcestershire for soy sauce: kind of makes sense in some ways, but really not the same thing.

bitters+slice of lemon+sugar=hiccup cure. and weirdly delicious to boot.

Slope Cellars shouldn't have them as they aren't alcohol but mixers which technically can't be sold in liquor stores. Got some at Fairway recently.

Actually, Angostura is 44.7% alcohol. I believe it's classified as food and beverage though, which prevents it from being sold in liquor stores. I always thought it tasted like an alcoholic Worcestershire sauce.

Iz all confused now.. I could have sworn I've bought it at liquor stores here.

Carnivore wrote: [quote=Mamacita][quote=sir_eccles]As far as I know the worldwide shortage of Angostura continues:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/19/AR2010011900877.html

Fee brothers do a huge range of interesting bitters. The whiskey barrel aged ones are pretty hard to find though.

Wow strange, I've never had a problem finding them, of course it's not something you run out of every month.

Look for Fee Brothers 10 times better than Angostura.
Fee Brothers are great, but not really a substitute for Angustura. I've got about a half dozen of the Fee Brothers bitters, and while they can make a fine cocktai, nothing tastes like Angustura except Angustura.

Kind of like substituting worcestershire for soy sauce: kind of makes sense in some ways, but really not the same thing.

The Fee Bros rhubarb bitters are floral and sweet. No like! I was expecting tartness in there somewhere. Kalyustans' in Manhattan sells 'em. <--not a liquor store. not a wine store. I think they are classified differently than booze, and sold in grocery stores.

Divine Taste on 7th Ave has Angostura bitters and a nice drink mix collection.

Matrick wrote: Actually, Angostura is 44.7% alcohol. I believe it's classified as food and beverage though, which prevents it from being sold in liquor stores. I always thought it tasted like an alcoholic Worcestershire sauce.

Bitters are classified as non-potable liquor. They typically are too bitter to be consumed on their own. In NYC they are only to be sold in supermarkets and delis and not in liquor stores, although it has in the past been available at both, just never enforced.

The shortage is due to angostura being pretty much driven into the ground by the recent owners that purchased it, and it ended up being sold back to the government. As a result, the government ended up shorting the payments on the bottle distributor and they ran out of bottles. They ended up having to source a new bottle supplier from China, and are now in the process of rebottling.

Yep, Grab has an assortment of different bitters. I was directed to look there by the good folks at Slope Cellars, who don't carry them.

You can also purchase 'Seasonal Bitters' from A. B. Smeby Bittering Company - made here in Brooklyn. www.ABSmebyBitteringCo.com. All natural, no synthetic coloring or additives.

I saw plenty at Steve's C-town on 9th. That stuff is above the freezers.

Absolute fact! I saw a shelf of them at Key foods on 5th for around $7 (seems high, right? )

It's the soda water, vitamin water, chips aisle next to the refrigerated deli/meat section towards the back section

All the vegetable stands and grocery stores in Crown Heights carry Angostura Bitters

I have just happened upon two extra bottles (4 fl. oz. each).

Anyone still need 'em?

True fact: The Angostora-Wupperman company was co-founded by the Wupperman family. Frank Morgan Wupperman (son of co-founder) = The Wizard of Oz (and is buried in Green-Wood cemetery).

Carry on.