Angostura Aromatic Bitters

Angostura Aromatic Bitters, the iconic ingredient in countless cocktails, originated as a medicinal tonic created by Dr. Johann Gottlieb Benjamin Siegert in the 1820s. While stationed in the town of Angostura, Venezuela, now Ciudad Bolívar, Dr. Siegert concocted this blend of herbs and spices to help ease the stomach ailments of soldiers. The recipe, still a closely guarded secret, became a worldwide sensation, transforming from a medicinal elixir to a staple in the art of mixology, symbolizing Trinidad and Tobago’s rich culinary heritage. The oversized label is said to have come about when two brothers who ran the company each took on a share of the work of rebranding the bitters to enter them into a competition. One brother designed the bottle and the other the label. Because they had not agreed on the dimensions, the label was far too large for the bottle. Since it was too late to make adjustments, they simply stuck the label on. Despite losing the competition, they did receive positive feedback about the looks, so they have used oversized labels ever since. Angostura bitters are used today in cocktails, soft drinks and dishes.