Scrappy's Bitters - Orleans Bitters 5oz

Scrappy's Bitters got its start in Seattle in 2008, when bartender Miles Thomas turned a search for better bitters into a full-fledged company, spending years testing herbs, spices, and extraction methods before settling on the recipes that launched the brand. That research helped position Scrappy's among the earliest and most influential names in the American craft bitters revival, and the company has kept its handcrafted, small-batch approach intact ever since, still processing and bottling everything in Seattle.

Orleans Bitters is Scrappy's take on the New Orleans style of bitters long associated with the Sazerac, built on a base of organic star anise along with citrus, cinnamon, and other supporting botanicals. As with the rest of the line, the ingredients are sourced whole and handled without oils or extracts, then combined with alcohol and distilled water and bottled at 47 percent alcohol by volume. The result leans into a single dominant flavor rather than the layered spice blends found in more traditional aromatic bitters, giving Orleans a more focused, anise-forward character.

The nose opens bright and vibrant, with star anise arriving first and quickly turning sweeter, joined by hints of citrus and cinnamon. On the palate the anise remains the clear centerpiece, though a bitter floral note surfaces toward the back of the sip, adding some structure beneath the licorice-like sweetness. The finish trails off with that same floral bitterness, making it a natural match for classic New Orleans cocktails built around whiskey or cognac.