Scrappy’s Aromatic Bitters
Scrappy's Aromatic Bitters are the craft cocktail bartender's aromatic — 46.6% ABV in a 5 oz (148 mL) dasher bottle, made from organic herbs and whole spices macerated in small batches in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 2008 by bartender Miles Thomas, Scrappy's uses whole ingredients — citrus zested by hand, never oils or extracts — and ships every batch only after inspection. Order online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA, and upgrade your Old Fashioned, Manhattan, or Sazerac.
- ABV: 46.6%
- Size: 5 oz (148 mL) dasher-top bottle
- Ingredients: Organic herbs and whole spices, hand-zested citrus; no artificial flavors, chemicals, or dyes
- Style: Classic aromatic bitters — full, rich, warm
- Origin: Made in Seattle, Washington; founded 2008 by bartender Miles Thomas
Small-Batch Bitters From a Seattle Bar Back
Miles Thomas — "Scrappy" since his days at Tavern Law — started making bitters in 2008 because the commercial options didn't cut it for his cocktails. The process hasn't scaled since: whole spices and herbs macerated in small batches, citrus zested by hand, every lot tasted and batch-numbered before it leaves the single Seattle facility. Scrappy's became the working bartender's bitters because they behave like one: potent, consistent, and clean-tasting. Explore more amaro and bitters and the full Scrappy's Bitters range.
Tasting Notes
Full and warm on the nose — clove, cinnamon, caramel, and dried herbs with a light pepper lift. The palate is richly bitter with a slightly numbing finish; the hand-zested citrus keeps the spice from ever feeling dusty. In a cocktail it reads as structure: it tightens a Manhattan, deepens an Old Fashioned, and wakes up a Sazerac.
How to Enjoy
Two to three dashes per cocktail is the standard dose. Beyond the classics — Old Fashioned, Manhattan, Sazerac — Scrappy's works in a rum Old Fashioned, a Champagne cocktail, or the brand's own "Bar Ginger" serve. A few drops in club soda makes a zero-proof bitter aperitif.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is in Scrappy's Aromatic Bitters?
Alcohol, distilled water, organic herbs and spices, and caramel. The published recipe uses whole ingredients macerated in small batches, with citrus zested by hand — no oils, extracts, artificial flavors, chemicals, or dyes.
How strong is Scrappy's Aromatic Bitters?
The official site states 46.6% ABV — potent enough that two or three dashes deliver real structure to a cocktail, typical of a proper aromatic.
What cocktails use aromatic bitters?
The holy trinity: Old Fashioned, Manhattan, and Sazerac. They're also essential in a rum Old Fashioned, a Champagne cocktail, and most whiskey-forward classics.
Stock your bar with Scrappy's Aromatic Bitters — order online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.