Regans' Orange Bitters No. 6 Bitters 5oz

Gary "Gaz" Regan, a bartender turned cocktail writer and author of "The Joy of Mixology," created his own orange bitters after growing frustrated in the 1990s with the limited options then on the market. Working from an old recipe found in Charles H. Baker Jr.'s "The Gentleman's Companion," Regan and his late wife Mardee tested dozens of variations in small home batches before landing on the formula that became known as No. 6. In 2005 the Sazerac Company agreed to produce and market the bitters commercially, and what started as a modest release of just 56 cases has since grown into one of the most widely used orange bitters among professional bartenders.

Regans' Orange Bitters No. 6 is built around macerated orange peel combined with cardamom, coriander, and caraway, then rounded out with gentian, cinchona, and quassia for added bitterness and depth. The ingredients are steeped in neutral grain spirit and bottled at a robust 45 percent alcohol by volume, making the finished product notably more intense than many other orange bitters on the market. Production now takes place through the Sazerac Company, which continues to bottle the bitters using Regan's original formula rather than a modernized recreation.

The aroma leans rooty and spiced, with dried orange peel and cardamom taking the lead over a quieter background of clove. On the palate the citrus stays present but plays a supporting role to a dry, assertive bitterness built on gentian and cinchona, giving the bitters a more savory, herbal character than a purely fruity one. The finish is long and warming, with orange peel and spice lingering alongside a persistent, slightly astringent dryness.