As a sommelier and brewer, I have had the opportunity to explore and understand various types of alcoholic beverages, including bitters. Bitters are commonly used as a flavoring agent in cocktails, and they do indeed contain alcohol. While a few dashes of bitters added to a drink may not have a significant impact on your level of intoxication, consuming a substantial amount of bitters can indeed get you drunk.
To provide some context, let's look at the alcohol content of bitters. The average alcohol content of bitters ranges from 35% to 45% ABV (alcohol by volume). This means that bitters contain a high concentration of alcohol, similar to many spirits like whiskey or vodka.
A standard bottle of bitters typically contains around 150-200 milliliters, depending on the brand. If we consider a bottle of bitters with a 45% ABV, it would contain approximately 67.5-90 milliliters of pure alcohol. To put this into perspective, a standard shot of whiskey is usually around 44 milliliters or 1.5 fluid ounces, containing around 14 grams of pure alcohol.
So, if you were to consume the entire bottle of bitters, you would be ingesting an amount of alcohol equivalent to nearly three shots of whiskey. This is certainly enough to get you drunk, depending on your tolerance and the speed at which you consume it. However, it is worth noting that bitters are not typically consumed straight but rather used as a flavoring agent in cocktails.
It is important to exercise caution when consuming alcoholic beverages, including bitters. Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can lead to a range of negative effects on your health, impair your judgment, and increase the risk of accidents. It is always advisable to drink responsibly and be aware of your limits.
While a few dashes of bitters added to a drink are unlikely to have a significant impact on your level of intoxication, consuming a substantial amount of bitters can indeed get you drunk. The high alcohol content in bitters, similar to other spirits, makes them capable of inducing intoxication when consumed in large quantities.