Bitter Queens Shanghai Shirley 5-Spice Bitters
Bitter Queens Shanghai Shirley 5-Spice Bitters is a 5 oz bottle of Chinese five-spice-inspired cocktail bitters — star anise, cinnamon, and fennel seed over a bitter gentian backbone — made for dashes in whiskey, gin, cognac, aged rum, and tequila drinks, available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- Format: cocktail bitters, 5 fl oz (148 mL)
- Flavor profile: Chinese five-spice — star anise, cinnamon, fennel, warm spice, bitter backbone
- Ingredients: alcohol, cinnamon, fennel seed, star anise, gentian, spices (per brand)
- Origin: Bitter Queens — born in the Bay Area, now based in New Orleans, LA
- Pairs with: whiskey, gin, cognac, aged rum, tequila; Negroni, Sazerac, gin sour, sparkling wine cocktails
Five-Spice, Rebuilt for the Back Bar
Bitter Queens gives every expression a personality, and Shanghai Shirley is the globe-trotter: the classic Chinese five-spice lineup — star anise, cloves, cinnamon, Sichuan-style pepper warmth, fennel — distilled into cocktail bitters with a proper bitter spine. The brand started in San Francisco's bar scene and now operates out of New Orleans (footer: New Orleans, LA 70115), and that cross-country move shows in the flavor: West Coast experimentation, Gulf Coast hospitality. Two dashes flirt with whiskey, gin, cognac, aged rum, or tequila, and the brand's own product guide points it at the Negroni, the Sazerac, and the gin sour — anywhere anise and warm spice can complicate the base spirit. Explore the full Bitter Queens range, or compare it with the citrus-forward Opulent Odessa Orange Bitters from the same lineup.
Tasting Notes
Star anise and cinnamon lead with a licorice-tinged sweetness, fennel adds a cool herbal lift, and warm pepper spice rolls through before gentian brings a dry, bitter close. In a Sazerac or rye Old Fashioned it adds an exotic, aromatic dimension no standard aromatic bitters can match.
How to Enjoy
Use in dashes, not pours — 2 to 4 per cocktail. Try it in a rye Old Fashioned, a Negroni, or a gin sour, and remember the brand's note that five-spice also works in Asian dressings, sauces, and marinades if you're a cook.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Chinese five-spice taste like in bitters?
Star anise, cinnamon, cloves, warm pepper, and fennel — the classic five-spice palette — layered over a dry bitter backbone that keeps it balanced in cocktails.
Is Bitter Queens made by Infuse Spirits?
The brand's official site lists New Orleans, LA as its home and describes itself as Bay Area-born; no source we found confirms an Infuse Spirits connection, so we state only what the brand claims for itself.
Which cocktails suit Shanghai Shirley best?
The brand recommends whiskey, gin, cognac, aged rum, and tequila drinks — the Negroni, Sazerac, and gin sour are the guide's named standouts.
How long does a bottle last?
At a few dashes per drink, a 5oz bottle seasons hundreds of cocktails — bitters are a flavoring, not a pour.
Add a dash of the exotic to your bar — order Bitter Queens Shanghai Shirley 5-Spice Bitters online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.