By the Dutch Classic Bitters
By the Dutch Classic Bitters is a powerful, full-bodied aromatic bitters at 45% ABV, handmade in Schiedam, the Netherlands — cinnamon, cocoa, cardamom, dried herbs, and bitter orange in a 50mL bottle with a pipette dropper cap. It is the bitters built to support the brand's Old Genever, gin, and Batavia Arrack in cocktails. Available to order online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 45%
- Size: 50mL (5cl) with pipette/dropper screw cap
- Profile: powerful aromatic bitter — cinnamon, cocoa, cardamom, dried herbs, bitter orange (official brand notes)
- Origin: handmade in Schiedam, the Netherlands, at the seventh-generation Herman Jansen Distillery (est. 1777)
- Ingredients: 100% natural flavoring; vegan friendly (per US importer)
Dutch Distilling, Bottled for the Bar
By the Dutch began in 2015 to reintroduce traditional Dutch distillates to the world, its portfolio shaped by the old VOC and WIC trading routes that once carried spices through Holland. Everything is distilled and handmade in Schiedam — Holland's historic distilling city — at Herman Jansen Distillery, a seventh-generation family operation founded in 1777. The three bitters joined the range in early 2016 specifically to complete the lineup, giving bartenders a Dutch-made aromatic bitter to pair with the brand's genever, gin, and Batavia Arrack. Discover the rest of By the Dutch or explore amaro and bitters.
Tasting Notes
Sweet, spicy, fiery, and very strongly herbal — the official profile. The nose is firm and strongly herbal with hints of cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and bitter orange; the palate follows with cinnamon and cocoa up front, cardamom and dried herbs through the middle, and a long, bitter-orange bite. A little goes a long way.
How to Enjoy
A few drops spruce up a cocktail — the importer's own serving suggestion, in cocktails or sparkling water over ice. Reach for it in an Old Fashioned, in genever-based drinks where its Dutch character is most at home, or anywhere you'd use a classic aromatic bitter for spice and structure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between aromatic bitters and orange bitters?Aromatic bitters like this one are built on baking spices and herbs (cinnamon, cardamom, cocoa); orange bitters lead with citrus peel. They season a cocktail differently — many bars keep both.
How many drops of bitters go in a cocktail?Typically just a few drops or dashes — bitters are a seasoning, not a base. By the Dutch ships this one with a pipette dropper cap for precise dosing.
What cocktails pair with Dutch bitters?Genever-based drinks first (its natural home), plus Old Fashioneds, Manhattans, and any stirred whiskey cocktail that wants warm spice and herbal depth.
Do cocktail bitters expire?Practically no — at 45% ABV in a small sealed bottle, bitters keep for years. Store at room temperature away from direct light; no refrigeration needed.
A Dutch-made aromatic bitter for serious cocktails — buy By the Dutch Classic Bitters online at Del Mesa Liquor.