Peychaud's Bitters
CoreNew Orleans / Louisiana
Tasting Notes
Cherry (candied, maraschino-like), anise/star anise, clove, light floral notes, gentle gentian bitterness, pink peppercorn, subtle mint. Lighter, brighter, and fruitier than Angostura. Where Angostura is dark and brooding like a winter spice cabinet, Peychaud's is vivid and floral like a spring garden. The red color isn't artificial — it's integral to the botanical extraction. If you've tasted cherry cough drops, you know the flavor neighborhood. Peychaud's lives there but with infinitely more complexity.
Brand Guide
There is one brand: Peychaud's ($9-13/10oz). Period. There are no competitors, alternatives, or craft versions of Peychaud's. Some cocktail bitters companies make 'Creole-style' bitters that nod to the same flavor profile, but they're not substitutes. If a recipe calls for Peychaud's, it means Peychaud's. Stock it or don't make Sazeracs.