I Joined the “Bitters Club” on This Tiny Island in Wisconsin—Home to the “World’s Biggest Consumers of Angostura Bitters” and You Can, Too

In Door County, Wisconsin, on the quaint and historic Washington Island, which boasts a whopping population of 700 (it’s one of the region’s many small islands), there’s a historic pub with a unique tradition. This “bitters” bar is where you go to drink straight bitters—on purpose.

It’s a rite of passage. 

Nearly everyone knows and has seen those little bottles of Angostura bitters, with a label that’s too big for the bottle (an interesting story for another day), and most folks are familiar with its use in many popular cocktails. Popping just a dash or two of Angostura bitters into a drink can add a hint of earthiness and subtle tang.

But what many might not know is that on the remote shores of Washington Island, to “drink like a local” and become a part of their “Bitters Club” (yes, it’s a real thing, with a membership card), you must take a full shot of bitters in front of the bartender at Nelsen’s Hall Bitters Pub.

The club was created by Tom Nelsen, who first arrived on Washington Island in the late 1800s as part of a wave of Danish immigration, and opened up a bar. This century-old establishment has a rich history, which includes surviving Prohibition by dedicating itself to selling these “medicinal bitters,” which, debatably, aided the locals in their tummy troubles. At first, the pub only sold regular drinks, but when the Eighteenth Amendment banned the sale of alcohol in 1920, Tom found a loophole to keep his business afloat. 

He sold the bitters marketed as a “stomach tonic for medicinal purposes.” This kept Nelsen’s open for the entirety of Prohibition. It gave this storied pub the opportunity to become the oldest continuously operating tavern in Wisconsin.

Upon traveling to Door County and taking the ferry over to Washington Island on a sunny summer day, I joined the ranks of folks inside the bar with a shot glass of straight bitters.

“Bottoms up!” I thought, as I took the shot of straight bitters.

It wasn’t actually as terrible as I’d anticipated. It tasted like sipping on black licorice candy. It was an herbal and powerful flavor (but I enjoy strong flavors). Whether or not these shots are actually “good for you” is still up for debate, in my opinion.

After taking your shot of bitters, you get to sign the official book inside the bar, and become an initiated member of the “Bitters Club.” This means you’ll get a paper membership card certifying your elite (and exclusive) status. Whether or not you’re a “bitters” person, it’s a very unique experience.

And don’t worry—there are plenty of other things on Nelsen’s menu to drink and eat. In fact, those who want to keep riding the bitters train can enjoy a creative evolution on Tom’s tradition with Angostura bitters-infused food menu items, such as the “Bitters Burger” special. Here, Angostura is used to season the burger patties. I didn’t try it, but it sounds like a perfect pairing for a bitters shot in a special and unique tourism experience on Washington Island in Door County, Wisconsin.

If you're looking for somewhere to set as a home base in Door County, check out this Beautiful Victorian-Era Vacation Rental Is the Perfect Home Base for Wisconsin’s Best Hiking Trails. And don't miss visiting the Small Wisconsin Town Of Baileys Harbor, which is a quaint, walkable village with many fun waterside attractions.