Bitter Queens Nor Cal Nancy Eucalyptus Bitters

Bitter Queens Nor Cal Nancy Eucalyptus Bitters is a 5 oz bottle of eucalyptus-forward cocktail bitters — eucalyptus, bay laurel, sage, and fennel seed — a Bronze winner at the 2020 Proof Awards and a standout in gin, vodka, tequila, and whiskey drinks, available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.

• Format: cocktail bitters, 5 fl oz (148 mL)
• Flavor profile: perfumed eucalyptus, sage, California bay laurel, tree bark
• Ingredients: alcohol, eucalyptus, bay laurel, sage, fennel seed, spices (per brand)
• Award: Bronze, 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, whiskey; Martini, whiskey highball, Bloody Mary, Margarita

A Springtime Hike Through Golden Gate Park, in Bitters

The brand's own tasting note for Nor Cal Nancy reads like a love letter to the state it was born in: "perfumed with fresh, verdant aromas of eucalyptus, sage, California laurel, and tree bark" — like a springtime hike through Golden Gate Park. Northern California is the brand's birthplace (San Francisco, before the move to New Orleans), and this is the expression that bottles it. Eucalyptus leads, but it's the supporting cast — sage, bay laurel, fennel seed — that makes it cocktail-worthy rather than medicinal, adding a verdant, savory edge that flatters gin and vodka especially. The brand's guide puts it in a classic Martini, a whiskey highball, a Bloody Mary, and a Margarita. Bronze at the 2020 Proof Awards backs up the concept. Shop the full Bitter Queens lineup, or compare it with the Bangkok Betty Thai Spice Bitters for a different take on herbal heat.

Tasting Notes

Fresh eucalyptus and sage up front, cool and camphorous, with California bay laurel adding a savory, almost tea-like depth. Fennel seed brings a sweet-anise lift, and the finish is dry and green. In a Martini it reads as juniper's cooler, wilder cousin.

How to Enjoy

Two to three dashes in a gin Martini is the brand's headline serve. It also works in a whiskey highball for an herbal lift, a Bloody Mary for savory complexity, or a Margarita where its green notes play off lime. The guide even suggests earthy uses beyond the glass — salad dressings, soups, chimichurri.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does it taste like cough drops?
No — the eucalyptus is balanced with sage, bay laurel, and fennel, so it reads verdant and savory rather than medicinal. Used in dashes, it's an herbal accent, not a dominant flavor.

What award did it win?
Bronze at the 2020 Proof Awards, per the brand's July 2024 product guide.

Which spirit pairs best with eucalyptus bitters?
Gin first — the brand calls out a classic Martini — then vodka, tequila, and whiskey.

Is it only for cocktails?
Cocktails are the main use, but the brand suggests earthy culinary uses too: salad dressings, soups, and chimichurri.

Bring Northern California to your bar — order Nor Cal Nancy Eucalyptus Bitters online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.