Fee Brothers Black Walnut Bitter

Black Walnut Bitter from Fee Brothers is a cocktail bitters, so it goes into a drink by the dash and isn't a liqueur or cordial to pour by the measure. The name points to a walnut-forward profile. Bitters in this style usually deliver a dry, toasty nuttiness with a faint tannic edge, a little like walnut skin or toasted pecan, over a bittersweet botanical backbone. They add very little sweetness of their own, so the sugar in the drink comes from whatever else you pour. Because the nut character is the point, this bottle works best in spirits that already have some oak, caramel or dried-fruit depth. In an Old Fashioned made with bourbon or rye, two or three dashes add a savory, nutty layer that sits well with demerara syrup and an orange peel. In a Manhattan, a dash can stand in for or sit alongside Angostura, pulling the sweet vermouth toward a darker, nuttier finish. Aged rum, añejo tequila and brandy take it well in stirred drinks. It also suits coffee and chocolate cocktails, such as an espresso martini or a mocha-style after-dinner drink, where the walnut note echoes roasted flavors. A dash in a maple sour or a hot toddy is another option. Start with one or two dashes and taste before adding more, since bitters of this kind can dominate a drink quickly. Stir the drink over plenty of ice and serve it in a rocks glass over a large cube, or up in a coupe if the recipe calls for it. Bitters aren't meant to be sipped on their own. A few dashes can go into soda water or ginger beer for a low-sugar, savory-leaning highball, though this is a flavoring more than a standalone drink. Cheese boards with aged cheddar, roasted nuts or dark chocolate pair naturally with cocktails made with it.