Scrappy’s Orange Bitters
Scrappy's Orange Bitters is a 5 oz bottle of all-purpose orange cocktail bitters — fresh Valencia and Navel orange peels balanced with bitter gentian root, bottled at 43.9% ABV (87.8 proof) per the brand's current spec — the "modern classic" of the Scrappy's line, available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 43.9% (87.8 proof, per brand's current official page; older listings cite 47.6% — flagged below)
- Format: cocktail bitters, 5 fl oz (148 mL); tagged "Essentials" on the brand site
- Flavor profile: fragrant orange oils, balanced with a precise dose of bitter gentian root
- Botanicals: fresh Valencia and Navel orange peels, gentian root; organic, no oils/extracts/artificials
- Origin: handcrafted in Seattle, WA by Scrappy's Bitters (founded 2008)
- Pairs with: Old Fashioned, Manhattan, Whiskey Sour — any drink calling for orange bitters
The Modern Classic of Orange Bitters
If the Seville Orange is Scrappy's seasonal showpiece, this is the workhorse: the brand's own "modern classic," tagged Essentials on its site, and the bottle that belongs in every serious home bar. The recipe is disarmingly simple — a blend of fresh Valencia and Navel orange peels, hand-zested, "loaded with fragrant orange oils and balanced with a precise dose of bitter gentian root." No oils, no extracts, no artificial anything — just peel and gentian, the way the category was built before shortcuts existed. It slots into any recipe that calls for orange bitters: Old Fashioneds, Manhattans, Whiskey Sours. The brand's own cocktail pages show its range too — the Paper Bunny (whiskey, carrot, orange, lemon), the Not Quite a Mai-Tai (tequila, orgeat, lemon), and the Flame of Love (vodka, sherry). One honest flag: the brand's current page lists 43.9% ABV while older trade listings cite 47.6% — the label spec has clearly changed over the years, and we state the brand's current figure. Browse the Scrappy's Bitters collection, or compare with the winter-only Seville Orange Bitters for the seasonal counterpart.
Tasting Notes
Bright, fragrant orange oil up front — Valencia sweetness and Navel depth — with the gentian arriving on the mid-palate to keep it honest. The finish is dry and cleanly bitter, never candied. In an Old Fashioned it reads as the definitive orange-bitters note.
How to Enjoy
Use wherever orange bitters are called for: 2–4 dashes in an Old Fashioned, a Manhattan, or a Whiskey Sour. The brand's recipes also point it at tequila (Not Quite a Mai-Tai) and vodka-sherry builds (Flame of Love).
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the ABV — 43.9% or 47.6%?
The brand's current official page lists 43.9% ABV; older trade listings cite 47.6%. Labels appear to have been re-specced over the years — we state the brand's current figure and flag the older number for the store owner to confirm against the bottle.
What makes it a "modern classic"?
It's the brand's essential, year-round orange bitters — fresh hand-zested Valencia and Navel peels with gentian, no extracts — the reference version of the category in the craft era.
How is it different from the Seville Orange?
This is the year-round, all-purpose orange bitters (Valencia + Navel); the Seville Orange is a hyper-seasonal winter release built on bitter Seville oranges with winter-spice notes.
Which cocktails need it?
Any calling for orange bitters — Old Fashioned, Manhattan, Whiskey Sour first — plus the brand's own Paper Bunny, Not Quite a Mai-Tai, and Flame of Love.
Every home bar needs this bottle — order Scrappy's Orange Bitters online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.