Made from the distillation of aromatic herbs, barks, roots and plants, bitters are a liquid used to flavor cocktails, apéritifs or foods. They are also used as a digestive aid and appetite stimulant. Bitters generally have a high alcohol content and are bitter or bittersweet to the taste. Angostura bitters, called for by name in many recipes, is simply the trade name for a brand of bitters. Other popular brands include Fernet-Branca and Peychaud.