Trinidad Sour

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What Is a Trinidad Sour?

The Trinidad Sour is one of the most surprising cocktails of the modern era. Instead of using Angostura bitters by the dash, it uses a full ounce and a half of them as the base spirit. That's combined with orgeat (almond syrup), fresh lemon juice and a small amount of rye whiskey, then shaken and served in a chilled coupe. The result is a deep red-brown drink that's spicy, sweet, tart and amazingly complex.

It sounds like it shouldn't work, since bitters are usually used a few drops at a time, but the Trinidad Sour is a modern classic that has won over bartenders and adventurous drinkers around the world.

A Brief History of the Trinidad Sour

Giuseppe González and the Clover Club

The Trinidad Sour was created in 2009 by bartender Giuseppe González at the Clover Club in Brooklyn, New York, one of the bars at the center of the modern craft cocktail movement. González was inspired by an earlier competition drink, the Trinidad Especial by Italian bartender Valentino Bolognese, which also used a large amount of Angostura bitters. González's version swapped the Especial's pisco for rye and fine-tuned the balance, creating the recipe most bars make today. Read more about it on the Trinidad Sour's Wikipedia page.

A Bartender Favorite

The drink quickly spread among bartenders, who loved its boldness and the way it turned conventional cocktail wisdom upside down. It's now on cocktail menus around the world and is often named as one of the most important cocktails of the 2000s.

About Angostura Bitters

Angostura bitters were created in 1824 by Dr. Johann Siegert, a German surgeon in the Venezuelan town of Angostura, as a remedy for stomach ailments. The company later moved to Trinidad, where the bitters are still made today from a secret recipe of herbs and spices. Angostura is one of the most important ingredients in the cocktail world, used in the Old Fashioned, Manhattan and countless other classics. You can learn more on Wikipedia's Angostura bitters page. Although bitters taste intensely bitter in tiny amounts, Angostura is about 45% ABV and has a sweet, spicy core, which is why it can work as a base in larger quantities.

Flavor Profile and What to Expect

The Trinidad Sour tastes nothing like you'd expect. Instead of overwhelming bitterness, it has a rich, warm spice flavor reminiscent of cloves, cinnamon, allspice, cherry cola and gingerbread. The orgeat adds sweetness and a creamy, nutty almond note that softens the bitters, while lemon juice brings bright acidity. The small amount of rye adds a spicy backbone and a little extra body. The finish is long, warm and gently bitter. It's bold, but it's surprisingly balanced and easy to enjoy.

Tips for Making a Trinidad Sour

Measure the Bitters Carefully

Angostura bottles have a dasher top designed to release only a few drops at a time. For this recipe, carefully remove the top or pour from a larger bottle into a jigger. Bars often keep a separate bottle of bitters with the top removed for this purpose.

Use Good Orgeat

Orgeat is the key to balancing the bitters. Use a good-quality almond syrup with real almond flavor, or make your own. Orgeat is also used in tiki classics like the Mai Tai.

Shake Hard

Shake vigorously with plenty of ice to chill and dilute the drink. The orgeat and bitters create a nice light foam on top.

Popular Variations and Related Drinks

The Trinidad Sour is a member of the large sour family, which also includes the Whisky Sour, the Amaretto Sour and the Pisco Sour, which uses a few drops of Angostura as a garnish. If you enjoy its rye backbone, try the New York Sour. And since the drink was born at the Clover Club, it's worth trying the bar's namesake Clover Club cocktail too.

How to Serve a Trinidad Sour

Serve the Trinidad Sour straight up in a chilled coupe. It's usually served without a garnish, since the drink's rich color and light foam speak for themselves, though a lemon twist adds a nice aroma.

Food Pairings and Occasions

The Trinidad Sour's spicy profile pairs well with roasted nuts, gingerbread, spiced cookies, smoked meats and sharp cheeses. Its warm spice notes also make it a great fall and winter cocktail, especially around the holidays. It's a fun drink to serve to cocktail enthusiasts who think they've tried it all.

Why People Love the Trinidad Sour

The Trinidad Sour is proof that rules are made to be broken. It turns a background ingredient into the star of the show and makes something rich, balanced and memorable. For whiskey fans and adventurous drinkers alike, it's a must-try modern classic. Explore our best whiskey cocktails to make at home for more ideas, or see the Trinidad Sour recipe on Difford's Guide.