Bitter Queens Bangkok Betty Thai Spice Bitters
Bitter Queens Bangkok Betty Thai Spice Bitters is a 5 oz bottle of Thai-inspired cocktail bitters — lemongrass, makrut lime leaf, and Thai bird chiles — a Double Gold winner at the 2020 Proof Awards and the brand's most decorated expression, available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- Format: cocktail bitters, 5 fl oz (148 mL)
- Flavor profile: citrusy Thai — lemongrass, makrut (kaffir) lime, chile heat, ginger warmth
- Ingredients: alcohol, lemongrass, makrut lime leaf, Thai bird chiles, gentian, spices (per brand)
- Award: Double Gold, 2020 Proof Awards (brand's product guide)
- Origin: Bitter Queens — born in the Bay Area, now based in New Orleans, LA
- Pairs with: gin, vodka, tequila, sparkling wine; Margarita, Cosmopolitan, Daiquiri, French 75, rye Old Fashioned
The Most Decorated Queen Brings the Heat
Bangkok Betty is the overachiever of the Bitter Queens lineup — Double Gold at the 2020 Proof Awards, the highest honor any of the expressions has taken. The flavor is a self-described "flavor jungle of citrusy Thai flavors": lemongrass and makrut lime leaf for citrusy brightness, Thai bird chiles for genuine heat, gentian for the bitter close. "Never the shy one," the brand says — "she brings the heat with a touch of sweet." The heat is real but measured: a few dashes add warmth and complexity, not fire-alarm spice. The brand's guide aims it at gin, vodka, tequila, and sparkling wine cocktails — Margarita, Cosmopolitan, Daiquiri, French 75 — with a rye Old Fashioned as the wildcard. Explore the rest of the Bitter Queens range, or try the Nor Cal Nancy Eucalyptus Bitters for the brand's other herbal heavyweight.
Tasting Notes
Lemongrass and makrut lime hit first — bright, citrusy, unmistakably Thai — followed by a building warmth from Thai bird chiles and a ginger-like spice hum. The finish is dry and bitter, which keeps the heat refreshing rather than heavy. In a Margarita it amplifies the lime and adds a slow-building tingle.
How to Enjoy
Two to four dashes in anything tropical or citrus-driven: Margarita, Daiquiri, Cosmopolitan, French 75. For the bold, the brand's guide also suggests a rye Old Fashioned — the chile heat against rye spice is a combination worth trying once.
Frequently Asked Questions
How spicy is it?
Noticeably warm — Thai bird chiles are the real thing — but at bitters dosage it's complexity and tingle, not hot-sauce heat.
What award did it win?
Double Gold at the 2020 Proof Awards, per the brand's July 2024 product guide — the brand's highest honor.
Which cocktails suit it best?
The brand names gin, vodka, tequila, and sparkling wine cocktails — Margarita, Cosmopolitan, Daiquiri, French 75 — plus a rye Old Fashioned for the adventurous.
What's makrut lime?
Makrut lime leaf (often still called kaffir lime) is the intensely aromatic citrus leaf central to Thai cooking — here it gives the bitters their signature citrusy brightness.
Turn up the heat on your cocktail game — order Bangkok Betty Thai Spice Bitters online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.