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Bitters is praised for its digestive benefits and unique bittersweet flavor, which adds remarkable aromatics and complexity to drinks and cocktails.
Humankind has been using herbal decoctions, best-called bitters, since ancient Egypt, but the product we know today has been around since the 19th century.
Aromatic bitters help clarify other flavors in a drink, creating depth. Bitters are believed to cleanse the palate while balancing sugar cravings, blood sugar levels, and appetite.
It encourages beneficial digestive enzymes and is a great cure for gas, bloating, and upset stomachs of all kinds. Medicinally, bitters also alleviate nausea and heartburn.
So many liquors today include bitters. From flavored whiskeys to a range of cocktails and sours – it’s one ingredient no bar can be without. One of the most popular brands today is Peychaud’s, but what if you can’t’ get your hands on any?
We’ve put together a selection of the best Peychaud’s Bitters substitutes presenting the same aromatic and health benefits.
Peychaud’s Bitters
Peychaud’s Bitters is a blend that was created around 1830 by a Creole apothecary named Antoine Amédée Peychaud, who settled in New Orleans after immigrating from present-day Haiti.
Peychaud based his bitters on a Gentiana blend involving the Gentiana lutea (Gentian) flower’s root, renowned for its broad range of pharmacological uses.
Today, Peychaud’s Bitters is distributed by the Sazerac Company, Inc who’s alcohol division is headquartered in Metairie, New Orleans, Louisiana.
Best Peychaud’s Bitters Substitutes
The great combination of gentian roots and other strong herbs makes up the competitive and highly competent recipe of Peychaud’s Bitters.
Still, so many ingredients of this bitter have been kept secret. Due to its high quality and compatible taste, very few liquors match or come near Peychaud’s Bitters quality.
Here are 10 of the best liquors you will find easily in the market to replace Peychaud’s Bitters:
1. Angostura Bitter – The Closest Substitute To Peychaud’s Bitters
It may be hard to find a replacement for New Orleans’ signature drink since Peychaud’s Bitters made their mark on Louisiana.
However, Angostura Bitters comes close and is the first substitute you should use. You can rely on the same intense bitter flavor and profound gastrointestinal benefits.
Both Angostura Bitters and Peychaud’s Bitters are based on a Gentian blend granting them similarly strong intensity and aromatics and the same healing properties.
Angostura Bitters has been using the same recipe since 1824 and is a must-have ingredient in many drinks like Manhattans and Sazarec whiskeys.
2. Suze Bitters – Easy Substitute For Peychaud’s Bitters
French bartender Fernando Castellon invented Suze in 1889. His original blend featuring cinnamon and cardamom added to gentian flower root extracts later expanded in 2014 to a broader range of bitters incorporating more flavors.
Suze Bitters is a fine second substitute to Peychaud’s Bitters.
Expect an aftertaste that lingers for slightly longer and a more intense bitter taste overall. It’s very versatile, but some may find the authentic Gentian bitterness a little too strong.
Give Suze Bitters a try in Manhattans and other whisky cocktails that call for boldness, or freeze this tasty yellowish liquor into ice cubes.
3. Boker’s Bitters – A Good Substitution To Peychaud’s Bitter
Boker’s Bitters uses a blend that Jerry Thomas originally listed in the world’s first cocktail book, The Bar-Tender’s Guide, published in 1862. Originally invented in 1828 by Gottlieb Böker, Boker’s Bitter was commercially produced until Prohibition closed business in the 1920s.
Eventually, in 2009, a sample resurfaced, and Boker’s Bitters distillers began appearing across the world, with prominent suppliers like The Bitter Truth emerging out of Philadelphia.
Although a suitable substitute for Peychaud’s Bitters, Boker’s comes with a woody taste and carries distinct flavor notes of orange peel that aren’t present in other brands.
Most that recreate the controversial authentic taste include hints of chocolate, coffee, and roasted spices like cassia.
4. Old Fashioned Bitters Company – Readily Available Substitute For Peychaud’s Bitter
Old Fashioned Bitters is affordable, easily available, and a decent substitute to Peychaud’s Bitters. If you’re on a tight budget, it’ll be your go-to choice. The flavor combination is less aromatic, switching floral highlights for bitter orange peel, honey, barrel-aged wood, and a strong brandy base.
Give Old Fashioned Bitters a try when you want something close to the authentic paste of Peychaud’s but without the price tag. It’s ideal for Old Fashions, just like the name suggests, and all varieties of whiskey cocktails that could do with a slightly drier, more bitter punch.
5. Old Forester Hummingbird Bitters – Bitter Alternative To Peychaud’s Blend
Old Forester Hummingbird Bitters is a Gentian blend that brings something different to the cocktail infusion.
This Missouri blend of bitters incorporates Quassia, rose, cardamom, clementine zest, and orange peel, toasted, almost, and uses a neutral base. It’s a wonderfully complex substitute that’s equally as mild, which makes it perfect for almost any cocktail.
Certain people may not like the dual bitterness of clementine zest and orange peel, but anyone who appreciates the dark, toasted taste will love how it makes whiskey cocktails pop.
6. Woodford Reserve Aromatic Bitters – Broad Selection Of Peychaud’s Bitters Substitutes
Woodford Reserve Aromatic Bitters is a relative newcomer to the industry and one of the finest bourbon and bitters in America.
Five separate flavors of bitters are available, including Woodford Reserve Chocolate Bitters, Orange Bitters, Aromatic Bitters, Sassafras and Sorghum Bitters, and Woodford Reserve Spiced Cherry Bitters.
The aromatic bitters are the closest you’ll get to Peychaud’s, and you’ll be blown away by just how affordable this tasty substitute is. It may not be as intense and flavorful, but it does the job, and most would never be able to tell the difference.
7. Fee Brothers Black Walnut Cocktail Bitters – Cocoa And Cola-Infused Alternative To Peychaud’s
Fee Brothers started manufacturing bitters in 1863, infusing cocoa and cola into their recipe. Expect to find Fee Brothers Black Walnut Cocktail Bitters to be richer, nuttier, and sweeter than other substitutes, which is also why it places so far down the list.
However, for those who are looking for a sweet, cheaper alternative to Peychaud’s Bitters, you can’t go wrong.
For some, the sour cherry aroma of Fee Brothers Black Walnut Cocktail bitters will be an instant turnoff, whereas, for others, the hinting sweet smell foretells a taste sensation that’s hard to compare to any other on this list.
It’s not your conventional aromatic bitters but is definitely worth trying for anyone who enjoys Peychaud’s.
8. Scrappy’s Bitters – All-American Aromatic Bitters
Scrappy’s Bitters is an American manufacturer that has been in operation for over twelve years. There are eight flavors in Scrappy’s range, all of which are handcrafted in Seattle.
The Aromatic variety is the most similar to Peychaud’s Bitters. Scrappy’s is an all-natural product as far as possible and contains no synthetic extracts, artificial flavors, nor dyes.
Most find Scrappy’s Bitters to be richer than Angostura and Peychaud’s Bitters. It’s a higher-priced alternative that should be a must-try for anyone who likes experimenting with complex, fruity flavors.
Some criticize the high price point, putting it out of reach of anyone but connoisseurs in most cases.
9. Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Cocktail Bitters – Peychaud’s Bitters Substitute Made For Old No. 7
Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Cocktail Bitters has been designed to complement a bottle of Old No.7 to perfection. It’s a fine blend that delivers prominent tastes of dark berry, maple, and ginger, which also make it a far sight different from conventional Gentian bitters like Peychaud’s.
You pay considerably less than one would for a bottle of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Cocktail Bitters. It’s not as intensely bitter as some of the substitutes on this list, which may make some prefer it.
If you’re a fan of Jack Daniels or like bitters with richer flavors, then do yourself a favor and try this fine cocktail bitters from the maker of one of the world’s favorite whiskeys.
10. Riga Black Balsam – The Oldest Bitters On Earth
Riga Black Balsam is technically the oldest bitters globally as it originated in 1752 as the invention of Latvian pharmacist Abraham Kunze.
Produced using single-barrel technology from a blend of 24 natural ingredients, of which 17 are botanicals, Riga Black Balsam is like no other bitters you’ve ever tasted. It’s so flavorful that most drink the spirit water as a liqueur.
The only reason that Riga Black Balsam places tenth is its unique infusion of flavor notes. It’s not what you’d expect from most bitters on this list. You get notes of roasted honey, valerian, fruit juices, and Peruvian balsamic oil added to Gentian flower root.
Final Thoughts
Bitters are excellent in alcoholic drinks and various cocktails as a mixer, but did you know that you can drink bitters with soda as a digestive aid?
Just a few drops with soda or plain water will infuse the aromatics and help your digestion along. Drink a glass of bitters with a meal to help your body digest and metabolize the food better.
Now, you’ve got a full range of Peychaud’s Bitters substitutes to try. You may find some are better for particular drinks or purposes.