Bitters have a surprisingly glamorous past. In the Great Gatsby era, they were essential for the classic cocktail party, and Jerry Thomas—the father of American mixology—never refrigerated his stash. In Mad Men, Don Draper’s bar cart has a bottle of Angostura right next to the rye, and it never sees the inside of a fridge.
Can Bitters Kill You at Emily Marsh blog
Even the famously fussy culinary icon Julia Child kept her vermouth in the fridge, but her bitters? On the counter. The takeaway: if it’s good enough for Don and Julia, it’s good enough for us.
A Practical Checklist for Your Kitchen
• Store bitters in a cool, dark cabinet (between 60–70°F is ideal).
• Keep them away from the stove, dishwasher, and direct sunlight.
• Tightly seal the cap after each use to prevent evaporation.
• If you notice a funky smell or sediment change after 5+ years, trust your nose and toss it. But honestly, that almost never happens.
