Instructions

1. Go to your supermarket. Bitters can contain up to 45 percent alcohol, but many will be freely available in supermarkets because some states do not consider them alcoholic beverages -- the taste is simply too strong. Look for them near the drink mixers.

2. Go to the liquor store. The leading brands of bitters in the U.S. are Angostura and Peychaud's. Most liquor stores will stock these, and a good liquor store may have a few bottles of some of the newer, small-batch bitters.

3. Try Internet distributors. In early 2010, a trade dispute between the maker of Angostura bitters and its U.S. distributor caused a shortage that has since ended. A Washington Post article recommended Fee Brothers Aromatic Bitters as a substitute, or a bitters aged in a whiskey cask. In the event this isn't available in your local liquor store, several Internet sites, including Amazon, may have some in stock. If you are looking for an obscure or small-batch bitters, several Internet sites make them available -- though you should check your state's laws on accepting alcohol in the mail before ordering.