Angostura Aromatic Bitters

Few bottles carry more mystique than this one. Created in 1824 by Dr. Johann Siegert, a German surgeon serving under Simón Bolívar in Venezuela, Angostura bitters began life as a medicinal tonic before evolving into the most essential bottle behind any serious bar. The exact recipe has remained a closely guarded family secret for two centuries — reputedly known to only a handful of people at any time.

Made from gentian root and a blend of herbs and spices, it delivers concentrated bitterness and warm spice in just a dash or two — the difference between a flat Old Fashioned and a properly balanced one.

No serious home bar is complete without it: a few drops elevate everything from a Manhattan to a simple soda water.