Scrappy’s Seville Orange Bitters
Scrappy's Seville Orange Bitters is a 5 oz bottle of hyper-seasonal winter cocktail bitters — hand-zested fresh Seville orange peel with winter spice notes, bottled at 47.5% ABV (95 proof) — handcrafted in Seattle by Miles "Scrappy" Thomas, available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 47.5% (95 proof, per official site)
- Format: cocktail bitters, 5 fl oz (148 mL); seasonal/limited release
- Flavor profile: zesty marmalade, delicate winter spices, subtle florals, long bitter finish
- Botanicals: fresh Seville orange peel, herbs, spices — organic, no oils/extracts/artificials
- Origin: handcrafted in Seattle, WA by Scrappy's Bitters (founded 2008)
- Pairs with: whiskey, gin, vodka, rum; winter/holiday cocktails, Old Fashioned, martini
The Winter-Only Bitters, Made from Real Seville Oranges
Most orange bitters are a year-round commodity; Seville Orange is not. Scrappy's only produces it in Northern Hemisphere winter, when Seville oranges — the bitter, aromatic variety behind proper marmalade — are actually in season. The result tastes like it: the brand's official copy promises "pronounced notes of zesty marmalade, delicate winter spices, and a long bitter finish," built on fresh hand-zested Seville orange peel with no oils, extracts, or artificial anything. Miles "Scrappy" Thomas founded the company in 2008 in Seattle after bartending at Serafina and Tavern Law, and every batch is still handcrafted in a single Seattle facility, batch-numbered after inspection. The brand steers it toward winter and holiday cocktails — an Old Fashioned, a martini, or the house recipes: the Whizz Bang (scotch, vermouth, absinthe), the Jack Rose, and the Sevillanos. Browse the Scrappy's Bitters range, or compare it with the year-round Scrappy's Orange Bitters to taste seasonal Seville peel against the classic Valencia-Navel blend.
Tasting Notes
Marmalade up front — bitter orange zest with a candied edge — unfolding into comforting winter spices and a subtle floral lift, then a long, dry bitter finish. Dark orange in color, with the hand-zested freshness that extracts can't fake.
How to Enjoy
Dash into winter whiskey drinks first: an Old Fashioned or a rye Manhattan, where the marmalade notes play off oak and spice. It also lifts a martini and suits rum and gin builds; beyond the glass, the brand suggests marinades, desserts, and honey or maple condiments.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Seville oranges different?
Seville oranges are the bitter, highly aromatic variety used for proper marmalade — more complex and less sweet than eating oranges, which is why they're prized for bitters.
Is it really only available in winter?
Production is hyper-seasonal — the brand makes it only during Northern Hemisphere winter when Seville oranges are available, so stock is genuinely limited.
What's the ABV?
47.5% ABV per the brand's official page (one retailer lists 43%, an outlier we disregard in favor of the brand).
Which cocktails suit it best?
The brand points to winter/holiday cocktails: Old Fashioneds, martinis, and the house serves — Whizz Bang, Jack Rose, Sevillanos.
Stock up before the season ends — order Scrappy's Seville Orange Bitters online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.