Bitters

Mole Bitters

Mole bitters are cacao, cinnamon and spice steeped in strong spirit, named after Mexico’s mole sauces; Bittermens Xocolatl Mole, the bottle our figure comes from, is 53% ABV by Difford’s Guide. They sit between chocolate bitters and Angostura, adding cocoa and warm spice to aged spirits. Our Añejo Old Fashioned takes two dashes.

Quick Facts

ABV53% ABVBittermens Xocolatl Mole, the bottle this figure comes from, is 53%.

Legal categorySpirit drink

OriginUnited States (Bittermens)

Flavour Strengthmedium bold

Our keeping timeYears once opened, capped and out of the light.

Storage

Sealed on the shelf; indefinite.

Allergens

None of the 14 listed allergens. Brands differ: check the bottle.

The ingredient

About Mole Bitters

Flavour Profile

Primary Flavours

CacaoCinnamonWarm spiceBitter finish

Tasting Notes

Cacao first, then cinnamon and warm spice, with a dry, bitter finish; warmer and spicier than plain chocolate bitters.

A sauce reduced to a dash

Mole is a family of Mexican sauces, some made with chocolate, and mole bitters borrow that combination of cacao and warm spice. A widely sold bottle is Bittermens Xocolatl Mole, at 53%, from an American bitters maker now in the Sazerac Company’s range. A dash adds cocoa and cinnamon to a drink, with a bitter finish, and no sweetness to speak of.

Warmer than chocolate bitters, darker than Angostura

Mole bitters against the two bottles they sit between (strengths from Difford’s Guide, The Bitter Truth’s site and a retailer listing)

Typical bottle

Mole bitters: Bittermens Xocolatl Mole
Chocolate bitters: The Bitter Truth Chocolate
Angostura: Angostura Aromatic

Strength

Mole bitters: 53%
Chocolate bitters: 44%
Angostura: 44.7%

Leads with

Mole bitters: Cacao, cinnamon, spice
Chocolate bitters: Cacao, vanilla
Angostura: Clove, cinnamon, gentian

Our recipes

Mole bitters: 1
Chocolate bitters: 2
Angostura: 58

	Mole bitters	Chocolate bitters	Angostura
Typical bottle	Bittermens Xocolatl Mole	The Bitter Truth Chocolate	Angostura Aromatic
Strength	53%	44%	44.7%
Leads with	Cacao, cinnamon, spice	Cacao, vanilla	Clove, cinnamon, gentian
Our recipes	1	2	58

Plain chocolate bitters are the softer choice when the cocoa should lead; Angostura keeps the spice and drops the cacao.

At home against oak and a little sugar

Our Añejo Old Fashioned uses two dashes as its only bitters, with 60ml of añejo tequila and 7.5ml of agave syrup. The barrel’s vanilla and the cacao meet in the middle. The same logic works with aged rum or bourbon in an Old Fashioned build; keep a little sweetness, because a bone-dry drink makes the spice taste harsh.

A strong bottle that lasts

In our experience, at 53% the bottle keeps for years with no fridge, closed and away from daylight, and at two dashes a drink a small bottle lasts a long while. Label it clearly if you also keep chocolate bitters, because the two look alike on a shelf and taste different in a drink.

Using it

Using Mole Bitters

Usage

Two dashes for a drink of aged tequila, rum or whiskey, added to the mixing glass with the sweetener before the ice. In our Añejo Old Fashioned they are the only bitters, against 60ml of añejo and a little agave syrup.

Pro Tip

Mole bitters reward a drink that is a little sweeter than usual. A touch more syrup gives the cacao and cinnamon something to sit on, where a very dry drink lets them taste harsh.

Top Tips

Start at two dashes. At 53% the bottle is stronger than most bitters, and the spice builds quickly.
Pair them with oak: añejo tequila, aged rum and bourbon all have vanilla for the cacao to meet.
Keep them apart from chocolate bitters on the shelf; the labels look alike and the drinks do not.
Swap one dash of Angostura for one of mole in an aged-spirit Old Fashioned to hear the difference.

Possible Substitutions

Chocolate Bitters: Cocoa without as much spice, and lighter at about 44%
Angostura Bitters: Clove and cinnamon without the cacao; our Añejo Old Fashioned allows it

Production Method

Spirit flavoured with cacao, cinnamon and other spices in the manner of a Mexican mole sauce; Bittermens does not publish the recipe.

History & Context

Bittermens, an American bitters maker whose brand the Sazerac Company lists on its own site, makes Xocolatl Mole, the bottle our strength figure comes from.

Go further

More to explore

Common Questions

What are mole bitters?

A cocktail bitters modelled on Mexico’s mole sauces, with cacao, cinnamon and other spices in strong spirit. Bittermens bottles its Xocolatl Mole at 53% ABV. One or two dashes give aged spirits cocoa and warm spice, drier than chocolate liqueur and spicier than plain chocolate bitters.

Mole bitters or chocolate bitters: how do they differ?

Both lead with cacao. Mole bitters add more cinnamon and spice, after the sauce they are named for, and Difford’s Guide gives Bittermens’ bottle 53%, against 44% on The Bitter Truth’s own site for its chocolate bitters. In a drink, mole reads warmer and spicier; chocolate bitters read more plainly of cocoa.

Which cocktails use mole bitters?

Our Añejo Old Fashioned takes two dashes with 60ml of añejo tequila and 7.5ml of agave syrup; its recipe line allows Angostura instead, for clove in place of cacao. Mole bitters also suit stirred drinks of aged rum and bourbon, where oak and vanilla meet the cocoa.

How strong are mole bitters?

Difford’s Guide gives Bittermens Xocolatl Mole 53% ABV, stronger than the 44.7% retailers list for Angostura and most other bitters. At two dashes, the alcohol comes to less than 0.1 UK units. The strength shows more in flavour than in alcohol, which is why two dashes is the place to start.

What can I use instead of mole bitters?

Chocolate bitters are the closest, with less spice; Angostura is the other option, with clove and cinnamon but no cacao. Our Añejo Old Fashioned names Angostura as its alternative. A pinch of cinnamon will not do the job, because it brings no bitterness.

Are mole bitters spicy hot?

Difford’s Guide describes Bittermens’ bottle as chocolate, cacao, cinnamon and spice rather than chilli heat, and at two dashes a drink does not taste hot. If a drink built with them burns, check the dose and the spirit before blaming the bitters; a 53% bottle dashed heavily can read sharp.

How long do mole bitters keep?

Years, in our experience. At 53% they need no fridge; keep the cap tight and the bottle in the dark. The spice aroma fades slowly with air; after years open, the bottle may want an extra dash for the same effect, or replacing.

Sources.

Correct as of 16 October 2026.

Difford’s Guide, “Bittermens Xocolatl Mole Bitters” (secondary source).
The Bitter Truth, “Chocolate Bitters”.
DrinkSupermarket, “Angostura Aromatic Bitters 200ml” (retailer listing: 44.7% ABV).
Sazerac Company, “Our brands: Bittermens”.

Make something

Made with Mole Bitters

Featured In These Cocktails

Añejo Old Fashioned

Often Used With

Guide by Jerry Can Spirits · Updated 16 October 2026

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