Fee Brothers Old Fashioned Bitters

Fee Brothers Old Fashioned Bitters, labelled Old Fashion Aromatic Bitters, are classic aromatic cocktail bitters from Fee Brothers in Rochester, New York. They are made with angostura bark, spice, citrus oil and gentian, and Fee Brothers says a few dashes add a savoury zest to a huge range of drinks and foods.

Buy Fee Brothers Old Fashioned Bitters Online in New Zealand

Fee Brothers is a family business that says it has 160 years of experience making bar products. This is its take on the aromatic style, the most-used type of bitters behind the bar and the one most classic recipes call for. The ingredient list names angostura bark, the bitter bark of a South American tree, alongside spice flavours, citrus oil and gentian root, in a base of water and glycerin. Retail listings give the strength as 17.5%, higher than most Fee bitters but still far lower than many spirit-based aromatic bitters.

In the glass, it brings warm baking spice, a touch of citrus and a firm bitter finish. That pulls a sweet, strong drink into balance and adds depth to the spirit, which is exactly why an Old Fashioned tastes flat without it. If you only buy one bottle of bitters, an aromatic like this is the one to start with.

Fee Brothers recommends one to three dashes per drink. Use two or three in an Old Fashioned or a Manhattan, a dash in a whiskey sour, rum punch or Champagne cocktail, or a few drops in soda water with lime. It also seasons food: try a dash in a marinade, gravy or fruit salad. Keep the cap tight and store it out of direct sun.