5 Lesser-Known Cocktails You Can Make with Bitters

Cocktail culture often revolves around the usual suspects—Old Fashioned, Manhattan, and Negroni. But if you’re looking to go beyond the classics and truly explore the magic of bitters, there’s a whole world of lesser-known cocktails waiting to be shaken, stirred, and savored.

Whether you’re using Bablouie’s Aromatic Bitters, Orange Bitters, or a full Bitters Combo Pack, these five underrated cocktails will elevate your mixology game and surprise your taste buds.

1. Trinidad Sour

Flavour Profile: Bold, spiced, slightly sweet

Unlike most cocktails that use bitters in dashes, the Trinidad Sour flips the script by making bitters the main spirit.

Ingredients:

1 oz Bablouie Aromatic Bitters

1 oz orgeat syrup (almond-based)

¾ oz lemon juice

½ oz rye whiskey

Method:

Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled coupe glass.

Why You’ll Love It:

It’s intense, complex, and showcases how bitters can be more than just a background player.

2. Kingston Negroni

Flavour Profile: Smoky, tropical, bitter-sweet

A Jamaican twist on the classic Negroni using rum instead of gin, this cocktail gets an exotic boost with the right bitters.

Ingredients:

1 oz Jamaican rum

1 oz sweet vermouth

1 oz Campari

2 dashes Bablouie Orange Bitters

Method:

Stir all ingredients with ice and strain into a rocks glass over a large cube. Garnish with an orange peel.

Why You’ll Love It:

It balances tropical depth with traditional bitterness—perfect for warm evenings.

3. Bitter Lemon Collins

Flavour Profile: Refreshing, citrusy, slightly bitter

Think of it as a grown-up lemonade with a punch of depth.

Ingredients:

2 oz gin

¾ oz lemon juice

½ oz simple syrup

3 dashes Bablouie Aromatic Bitters

Soda water to top

Method:

Shake the gin, lemon juice, syrup, and bitters. Pour into a tall glass with ice, top with soda water, and garnish with a lemon wheel.

Why You’ll Love It:

Crisp and light with a bitter edge—it’s a perfect afternoon sipper.

4. Revolver

Flavour Profile: Rich, warming, slightly spicy

A modern whiskey cocktail that uses coffee liqueur and bitters for a smoky, deep flavor.

Ingredients:

2 oz bourbon

½ oz coffee liqueur

2 dashes Bablouie Orange Bitters

Method:

Stir all ingredients with ice and strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with an orange twist.

Why You’ll Love It:

It’s like an Old Fashioned for coffee lovers—smooth and slightly indulgent.

5. Peach Bitters Fizz (Mocktail Option Available)

Flavour Profile: Fruity, fizzy, aromatic

This one’s perfect if you're entertaining or want a drink without the heavy ABV.

Ingredients:

1 oz peach syrup or puree

½ oz lime juice

3 dashes Bablouie Aromatic or Orange Bitters

Sparkling water

Method:

Build the drink in a highball glass with ice, stir gently, and top with sparkling water. Garnish with fresh mint or peach slices.

Mocktail Tip:

Leave out the alcohol for a beautifully layered, non-alcoholic cocktail.

The Bitters Renaissance: Why They're Back and Bigger Than Ever

Bitters may seem like a modern mixology marvel, but they actually date back to the early 1800s when they were used medicinally to cure everything from indigestion to hangovers. Over time, bartenders realized that a few dashes of these herbal extracts could transform a drink from basic to brilliant. Fast-forward to 2025, and bitters have become the heart of the modern home bar.

Bitters at Home: How to Use Them Right

If you’re just starting your bitters journey, here are a few quick tips:

Start small. Bitters are potent—begin with 1-2 dashes and adjust.

Use in everything. Beyond cocktails, bitters can be added to mocktails, soda water, coffee, and even desserts like brownies and whipped cream.

Pair flavors smartly. Orange bitters work beautifully with bourbon and rum, while aromatic bitters complement gin, vodka, and even beer cocktails.

What makes bitters so fascinating is their complexity. Each bottle is a blend of herbs, roots, spices, and citrus peels, steeped in alcohol to extract flavor and aroma. That’s why even just 2-3 drops can make a noticeable difference in a cocktail’s profile—adding bitterness, aroma, balance, and intrigue.

Why Choose Bablouie Bitters?

At Bablouie, our bitters are crafted in small batches using premium botanicals. They’re balanced, versatile, and made for Indian palates that appreciate both bold and subtle flavor dimensions.

Whether you’re gifting a cocktail lover or upgrading your own bar game, Bablouie Bitters and Barkits offer a complete experience of flavor, craftsmanship, and creativity.

Final Stir

Bitters are far more versatile than most people realize. From tropical rums to coffee-infused bourbons to citrus-forward refreshers, just a few dashes can completely transform your cocktail experience.

Whether you're an amateur mixologist or a seasoned sipper, these lesser-known cocktails offer bold, refreshing alternatives to the classics—and Bablouie bitters are your ticket to that flavor journey.