Peychaud’s Bitters
Peychaud’s Aromatic Cocktail Bitters are a bitters from New Orleans, 35% ABV on Amathus’s listing, bright red, with anise and cherry in front of a lighter bitterness than Angostura. They are the bitters the IBA names for the Sazerac and the Vieux Carré, two dashes in each, and five of our recipes use them.
Quick Facts
Store upright at room temperature away from direct sunlight. Ensure cap is tightly sealed to prevent evaporation.
None of the 14 listed allergens. Recipes change: check the bottle.
About Peychaud’s Bitters
Flavour Profile
Primary Flavours
Tasting Notes
Bright anise-led aroma with soft cherry sweetness and floral undertones. Less bitter and less clove-forward than Angostura, with a lighter, fresher finish.
A French Quarter apothecary’s bitters
The Sazerac Company says Antoine Amédée Peychaud was an apothecary in New Orleans’ French Quarter from the 1830s, and that his Aromatic Bitter Cordial was advertised in 1857 as put into use in the Sazerac House, which ties it to the story of the Sazerac. The Sazerac Company owns it now; most is made at its Buffalo Trace Distillery in Kentucky, with a smaller run bottled at the Sazerac House in New Orleans since December 2019.
Lighter than Angostura, and not a swap for it
The two bottles do different jobs. Angostura darkens a drink and dries it with clove; Peychaud’s lifts it with anise and tints it pink. That is why the recipes that name Peychaud’s say so outright, and why the Seelbach takes seven dashes of each.
Peychaud’s and Angostura side by side (strengths from Amathus and a retailer listing; IBA classics from the IBA; recipe counts ours)
Strength
- Peychaud’s
- 35% ABV
- Angostura
- 44.7% ABV
Colour
- Peychaud’s
- Bright red
- Angostura
- Dark reddish brown
Leads with
- Peychaud’s
- Anise, cherry
- Angostura
- Clove, cinnamon, gentian
Usual dose in our recipes
- Peychaud’s
- Two dashes
- Angostura
- Two dashes
Our recipes
- Peychaud’s
- 5
- Angostura
- 58
IBA classics
- Peychaud’s
- Sazerac, Vieux Carré
- Angostura
- Old Fashioned, Manhattan
| Peychaud’s | Angostura | |
|---|---|---|
| Strength | 35% ABV | 44.7% ABV |
| Colour | Bright red | Dark reddish brown |
| Leads with | Anise, cherry | Clove, cinnamon, gentian |
| Usual dose in our recipes | Two dashes | Two dashes |
| Our recipes | 5 | 58 |
| IBA classics | Sazerac, Vieux Carré | Old Fashioned, Manhattan |
Two dashes in most of our drinks, seven in one
The IBA’s Sazerac and Vieux Carré both take two dashes, and so does the Metropole, with a dash of orange bitters beside them. The La Louisiane takes three. In the Seelbach, seven dashes go into a drink lengthened with champagne, which spreads them thin enough to read as spice and colour.
No fridge, and years of life once opened
In our experience, at 35% a closed bottle in a cupboard stays usable for years, and the fridge adds nothing. Air and light soften the anise over time, so a bottle opened long ago may need replacing before the drink tastes right. Wipe the neck after pouring so the cap still seals.
Using Peychaud’s Bitters
Usage
Two dashes in a Sazerac, Vieux Carré or Metropole, soaked into the sugar or added with the spirit before stirring. The La Louisiane takes three, and the Seelbach seven beside seven of Angostura, where the champagne carries them.
Pro Tip
If you only have Angostura and a recipe needs Peychaud’s, make something else. The anise is what joins absinthe, cognac and sugar in a Sazerac, and aromatic bitters pull the drink towards an Old Fashioned.
Top Tips
- Keep a bottle beside the Angostura. Five of our drinks need it, and none of them is the same with aromatic bitters.
- In a Sazerac, let the dashes soak into the sugar before you crush it.
- In the rye Sazerac, add a dash of Angostura with the Peychaud’s for a firmer spice note.
- Count the dashes. A lighter flavour tempts a heavy hand, and the anise soon takes over.
Possible Substitutions
- Angostura Bitters: Darker, with clove and more bitterness: a different drink, not a straight swap
- Orange Bitters: Brighter and peel-led; closer in weight, without the anise
Production Method
Spirit flavoured with herbs and spices, coloured red and bottled at 35%. The Sazerac Company says it makes most of it at Buffalo Trace in Kentucky and some at the Sazerac House in New Orleans; the recipe is not published.
History & Context
The Sazerac Company says Antoine Amédée Peychaud was an apothecary in New Orleans’ French Quarter from the 1830s, and that his Aromatic Bitter Cordial was advertised in 1857 as put into use in the Sazerac House. The brand now belongs to the Sazerac Company.
More to explore
Common Questions
What are Peychaud’s bitters?
How do Peychaud’s and Angostura differ?
Can I use Angostura instead of Peychaud’s in a Sazerac?
How many dashes of Peychaud’s go in a Sazerac?
How strong are Peychaud’s bitters?
Which cocktails use Peychaud’s bitters?
Do Peychaud’s bitters go off?
Sources.
Correct as of 16 October 2026.
- Sazerac House (Sazerac Company), “Sazerac House now producing and bottling Peychaud’s Bitters” (the owner’s press release, 12 December 2019).
- Amathus Drinks, “Peychaud’s Bitters” (UK importer and retailer listing: 35% ABV).
- DrinkSupermarket, “Angostura Aromatic Bitters 200ml” (retailer listing: 44.7% ABV).
- IBA, “Sazerac”.
- IBA, “Vieux Carré”.
Made with Peychaud’s Bitters
Featured In These Cocktails
Often Used With
Updated 16 October 2026