Gedistilleerde drank waarin kruiden, wortels en schillen zijn getrokken. Van oorsprong een medicijn, later een drank voor voor of na het eten.

Wanneer schenkt u een bitter?

Een aperitiefbitter voor het eten, een kruidenbitter erna. Beide goed gekoeld.

Is er hulp bij het kiezen?

Ja, daar zijn we voor. Bel 0570 541 278 of mail info@bockje.nl.

Verzendt ’t Bockje naar het buitenland?

Ja, naar ongeveer veertig landen. Mail info@bockje.nl als u wilt weten of uw land erbij zit.

A row of old glass medicine bottles on a dark background

One hundred and fourteen bitters. One shop.

57brands

11countries

63from the Netherlands

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Chapter 01 · What you taste

Bitterness from root, peel and seed

Bitters are spirits in which roots, bark, peel and seeds have been steeped: gentian, orange peel, wormwood and cinchona are the best known. Sugar and herbs balance the bitterness. Three directions: the Dutch herbal bitters and beerenburg, the German herbal liqueur and the Italian amaro and aperitivo. In most bottles the bitterness is mainly in the background.

Filter all bitters

Chapter 02 · Herbal bitters

Herbal bitters are all about the house recipe

Herbal bitters cover most of what is poured cold from the cupboard: robustly herbal, dry to semi-sweet, usually between thirty and forty per cent. Each house keeps its own recipe and rarely gives it away, so two bottles from the same group can be far apart. Bitter is not a protected name.

The herbal bitters

Chapter 03 · Beerenburg

Beerenburg is a Frisian name, not a brand

Beerenburg is herbal bitters on a jenever base, originating in Friesland and now made throughout the country. The name is not protected, so the differences are large: from dry and herbal to sweeter and heavier. Gentian root, bay leaf and juniper berry often recur. Beerenburg is served cold and neat, in a small glass.

The beerenburgs

Chapter 04 · Netherlands

The Netherlands has its own bitters tradition

The Dutch bitters tradition runs through the jenever distilleries. Besides the well-known herbal bitters there is plenty of regional work from small distilleries, often with a recipe from a town or a family and sometimes hardly available outside their own area. The style is drier and more herbal than the Italian one and is drunk cold and neat.

The Dutch bitters

Chapter 05 · Italy

The Italian side stands apart

Amaro comes after the meal: dark, herbal, often based on gentian, rhubarb or artichoke, with a bitter finish. The lighter, red Italian aperitifs go with sparkling water or in a spritz and are lower in alcohol and higher in citrus. The difference lies mainly in the strength and in the moment of serving.

The Italian bitters

Three types

Start with the type

The three types of bitters on the shelf

Click on a type and the list below shows only those bottles.

Herbal bitters35 Beerenburg19 Herbal liqueur18

72 of the 114 bitters have already been classified by type.

114 bitters from € 1.00 to € 149.99

Filter everything on the filter page

The list shows a cross-section of the stock, spread over all sections. The number above it is the entire stock, which is on the filter page.

Wij verkopen geen alcohol aan personen onder de 18 jaar. NIX18

In stock today

Eight of the 114 bitters in the shop

BattumsBattums Kruidenbitter30% · Herbal bitters€ 17.50

Bitter Boomsma beerenburg steen L by Boomsma

BoomsmaBoomsma beerenburg steen L30% · Beerenburg€ 14.99

Bitter Karlsbader Becherovka Herbal Liquer by Karlsbader

KarlsbaderKarlsbader Becherovka Herbal Liquer38% · Herbal liqueur€ 18.99

Bitter De Sjirurch Beerenburg by De Sjirurch

De SjirurchDe Sjirurch Beerenburg40% · Beerenburg€ 17.99

Bitter Hooghoudt Beerenburg by Hooghoudt

HooghoudtHooghoudt Beerenburg30% · Beerenburg€ 17.99

SonnemaSonnema Berenburg30% · Beerenburg€ 17.49

Bitter Hooghoudt Kalmoes Beerenburg by Hooghoudt

HooghoudtHooghoudt Kalmoes Beerenburg30% · Beerenburg€ 17.99

Bitter Vecchio Amaro del Capo by Vecchio Amaro

Vecchio AmaroVecchio Amaro del Capo35% · Italy€ 16.99

Why here

Bitters from a wine and spirits shop that knows its shelf

Bitters once started out as medicine: herbs, roots and peel steeped in alcohol. That is why they have traditionally been served before or after a meal, and not in between.

This page lists every brand we stock, followed by the number of bottles. Click on a name for that brand's page.

The biggest brands

Those we stock most of

10 bottles

Jägermeister

€ 6,49

View the bottle

5 bottles

Battums Kruidenbitter Mini

€ 3,99

View the bottle

5 bottles

Weduwe Joustra Beerenburg 32%

€ 9,99

View the bottle

4 bottles

Angostura Cocoa Bitter

€ 11,99

View the bottle

4 bottles

Campari Soda L'Aperitivo

€ 9,99

View the bottle

4 bottles

Sonnema Berenburg

€ 4,99

View the bottle

Briefly explained

Where bitter comes from

In brief
57brands in stock
99bottles
Jägermeisterlargest range
BathmenBrink 2, or online

Virtually every bitter begins as a medicine. Herbs, roots and peels were steeped in alcohol because it held on to the active substances best and because it kept for a long time. Only later did it become a drink.

That explains the taste: bitter compounds from gentian, cinchona bark or orange peel, which get the digestion going. That is why a bitter has traditionally been served after the meal, and an aperitif bitter before it.

Some bitters are used drop by drop in a cocktail, others are simply poured into a small glass. Both should be well chilled.

Almost every bitter started out as a medicine. The taste still gives that away.

The full overview

All 57 brands we stock

Search by name or jump to a letter.

Search for a brand57 brands

A4 brands

B3 brands

C3 brands

D3 brands

E1 brands

Els1

F1 brand

Fernet-Branca1

G3 brands

H2 brands

J5 brands

K7 brands

L1 brands

Leibwachter1

M3 brands

N2 brands

P4 brands

R1 brands

Ramazzotti1

S6 brands

T2 brands

U3 brands

V2 brands

W1 brands

Weduwe5

View the whole shelf

99 bottles, with current price and stock.

View all bottles

Frequently asked questions

How many bitters does ’t Bockje have?

99 bottles of van 57 merken.

What is a bitter?

A spirit in which herbs, roots and peels have been steeped. Originally a medicine, later a drink for before or after a meal.

When do you serve a bitter?

An aperitif bitter before the meal, a herbal bitter after. Both well chilled.

Is there help with choosing?

Yes, that is what we are here for. Call 0570 541 278 or email info@bockje.nl.

Does ’t Bockje ship abroad?

Yes, to about forty countries. Email info@bockje.nl if you would like to know whether your country is included.

All bitters brands from A to Z

Brink 2, Bathmen

The entire stock is in the shop, not in a warehouse. Feel free to drop by, or call 0570 541 278: we are happy to help.

Wij verkopen geen alcohol aan personen onder de 18 jaar. NIX18

Tuesday to Friday 09.00 – 18.00
Saturday 09.00 – 17.00
Monday and Sunday closed

One hundred and fourteen bitters. One shop.

Bitterness from root, peel and seed

Herbal bitters are all about the house recipe

Beerenburg is a Frisian name, not a brand

The Netherlands has its own bitters tradition

The Italian side stands apart

The three types of bitters on the shelf

Filter the bottles

Eight of the 114 bitters in the shop

57 bitters brands

Bitters from a wine and spirits shop that knows its shelf

Those we stock most of

Jägermeister

Battums Kruidenbitter Mini

Weduwe Joustra Beerenburg 32%

Angostura Cocoa Bitter

Campari Soda L'Aperitivo

Sonnema Berenburg

Where bitter comes from

All bottles in the shop

All 57 brands we stock

View the whole shelf

Frequently asked questions

How many bitters does ’t Bockje have?

What is a bitter?

When do you serve a bitter?

Is there help with choosing?

Does ’t Bockje ship abroad?

Brink 2, Bathmen