The Best Orange Bitters Roundup – Regans’, Fee Brothers, The Bitter Truth, & Angostura (2025 Update)

After aromatic bitters, orange bitters are easily the most commonly called-for bittering agents in cocktails today. There’s also a huge variety of bitters available on the market. Are they any different? Which is best? I put four big bitters brands to the test to see which was best.

Regans’ Orange Bitters No. 6 – A 1990s recreation of Charles Baker’s orange bitters recipe, brought to you by Gary Regan and the Sazerac Company. Tangerine notes on the nose, with clear notes of cardamom and clove-like character on the back end, dollowed by a hint of chocolate. Orange aplenty, but with a bracing, Fernet-like bitterness that really lingers, walloping you on the finish. The best of all worlds, packing both ample, authentic fruit and a big, bitter punch. 45% abv. A / $16 per 5 oz. bottle [BUY IT NOW FROM AMAZON]

Fee Brothers West Indian Orange Bitters – Very low alcohol. Lighter in color, much sweeter, but more orange-focused than Regan’s, offering sweet tangerine notes up front that fade into cinnamon and clove notes. Quite a bit sweeter than other brands, with an almost candylike edge to them — but I like the way they impart a clear orange character (along with mild bitterness) to a cocktail. I like these in punches and other party drinks but don’t reach for them for typical cocktailing needs. 9% abv. B+ / $12 per 4 oz. bottle [BUY IT NOW FROM AMAZON]

The Bitter Truth Orange Bitters – Interesting nose — light on orange and heavy on notes of coffee, roasted/smoked meat, ginger, and other savory elements. The body is a nice mix of citrus and more savory elements, but they aren’t overwhelmingly bitter. The smoky element is curious, but a bit at odds with the typical usage of orange bitters. 39% abv. B / $27 per 200ml bottle [BUY IT NOW FROM AMAZON]

Angostura Orange Bitters – Very pale in color, with a bright mandarin/tangerine note immediately evident. Very sweet on the palate, with a candylike quality that isn’t easily shaken. They’re very similar to Fee Brothers’ offering, except there’s not really any bitterness evident here at all. For a drop of orange candy in your drink, these are fine, but nuance is very much lacking. 28% abv. B / $13 per 4 oz. bottle [BUY IT NOW FROM AMAZON]

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