Peach Bitters
Bitters flavored with peach, adding a fruity, aromatic accent.
Origin
A modern specialty bitters flavor, part of the broader wave of flavor-specific bitters that emerged during the 2000s-2010s craft cocktail revival.
History
Like other flavor-specific bitters, peach bitters are a modern addition to the category, developed as bitters makers moved well beyond the original 19th-century aromatic style into an enormous range of fruit- and flavor-specific options. Peach bitters give bartenders a way to add concentrated stone-fruit aroma and a light bitterness to a cocktail without needing fresh peaches, peach liqueur, or peach schnapps.
Flavor profile
Concentrated peach and stone-fruit aroma over a bitter, aromatic base.
Tasting notes
A few dashes add a soft, fragrant peach note without significant added sweetness, useful for boosting a drink's fruit aromatics in bourbon, prosecco, or gin cocktails without needing fresh fruit.
Substitutes
- Peach schnapps or peach liqueur in a tiny amount, understanding it adds sweetness the bitters wouldn't.
- Aromatic bitters plus a small amount of peach syrup, as an approximation.
- A different fruit-forward bitters, if peach specifically isn't available.
