The Angostura Bitters Apocalypse: Nigh, But Temporary

Photograph by Flickr user Annie Mole . Angostura bitters—that small but seemingly bottomless bottle that’s been in your fridge door forever, wrapped in an oversized muumuu of a label—have been unexpectedly scarce at bars in recent months. Craigie On Main has reassured its customers via tweet that they’ve got a stockpile to outlast the Angostura apocalypse. Bostonist had heard all sorts of things blamed for the shortage of this cocktail staple: bottling mishaps, distribution issues, politics, and, shaking a fist in the direction of Brooklyn, the recent fad of formulating beverages that contain whole ounces of bitters per serving . Turns out that the bitters have been out of production for a year due to the ubiquitous financial crisis, which has devastated Trinidad & Tobago’s CL Financial, Angostura’s parent company. They’re restructuring , and

Patrick Sepe, CEO of Angostura USA, has told Bostonist, via email, that there were also glass and ingredient shortages, but “As of October 9th Angostura [has] moved back into production and will be at full capacity by the end of November.” “There are scheduled shipments that will hit the entire north east beginning next week and continued through November,” said Sepe, when asked about Massachusetts’ supply. “So hopefully it will make its way to our very important mixologist friends and household consumers within the next 12-15 days.” Until the famine ends, Bostonist hopes that more bar patrons are discovering the joys of Fee’s and Bittermen’s, available to home mixologists at Liquor World , The Boston Shaker , and other fine retailers.

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The Angostura Bitters Apocalypse: Nigh, But Temporary