Classic aromatic (Angostura template)
ReferenceTrinidad (Angostura), US craft producers, Global
ABV40-50%
Sub-styles
Gentian-dominantCassia-forward variantsOrange-enhancedModern craft aromatics
Tasting Notes
Clove, cinnamon, gentian, allspice, cardamom, bitter herbs, warm spice. Angostura is the template: warm, spiced, complex, bitter. Competitors may lean more toward one spice or another. The bitterness should be assertive but not overwhelming.
Brand Guide
Standard: Angostura Aromatic ($8-12). Alternative: Fee Brothers Old Fashion ($8-10). Craft: Scrappy's Aromatic, Bitter Truth Old Time ($12-18). Angostura IS the standard. Everything else is measured against it.
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The Story
The foundational aromatic bitter that built the cocktail canon, gentian-rooted and warm-spiced.