Bitters in Mexico?

[bdoty]

Does anyone know where I can find Angostura, Peychauds and orange bitters in Queretaro, Mexico? Or at least Mexico City or closer the next time I'm there? Will I actually have to make them from grain alcohol and spices? Where am I to find gentian? Okay this may be a crazy request in Mexico but I like my high quality cocktails on occasion.

[gueraaven]

I've tried a big La Naval in Condesa and la Europea and La Criolla in Polanco for years and never found them.

[bdoty]

Here's the weird thing about this. I was at the cantina Los Remedios here in Queretaro and found "Amargo de Angostura" on the menu. I had to try it hoping it would actually be Angostura bitters. It was!...and it wasn't. I looked at the bottle (750 ml) and they actually had a Mexican made Angostura bitters. It tasted a lot like the original, though it was missing some of the intense bitterness and a certain...je ne sais quoi (in the RC cola to Coca-Cola kind of way). Oddly though, they served it like an Italian bitter, putting a shot of it over ice. I asked the waiter if I could buy the bottle but at a cantina price of 780 pesos a bottle, I decided to let it go. Maybe for the real stuff but not for a Mexican imitation. Still, it isn't bad. I went into la Europea looking for the Mexican stuff but it left all the employees as clueless as could be (one even asked me if it was a mescal...sigh). The waiter at Los Remedios was also stunned I ordered it and had no idea where it came from. So, if anyone sees even a Mexican Amargo de Angostura, please let me know.

[cristina]

I don't know if this link will actually show up, but the La Europea web page shows that it carries your Mexican bitters. http://www.laeuropea.mx Just type Angostura in the search field at the top left of the page and it will show up (at $108 pesos for 750ml, no less). No photo, but it shows in stock.

Call them, they'll tell you which store stocks it.

Cristina
Link: http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

[cristina]

Have you tried La Europea, right there in Querétaro? IMHO, they are your best bet for the things you want. Of course they also have stores in the DF.

Roberto Ruiz Obregón 7,
Col. Parques Industriales,
Querétaro, Qro.
Tel: [phone]

Link: http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com