Fee Brothers Cherry Bitters

Fee Brothers Cherry Bitters is a flavoring bitter, not a drink to sip on its own. It is built to be dosed in dashes, and a single bottle will last through a lot of cocktails. The producer isn't stated here, and the brief gives no ABV, origin, or tasting notes. What follows is the typical profile for a cherry bitters. Expect a concentrated cherry character, often leaning toward dark-cherry and maraschino-style fruit with a bitter backbone. Bitters in this style are usually less sweet than a cherry liqueur and are meant to season a drink, not sweeten it. The most natural use is in whiskey cocktails. A few dashes in an Old Fashioned, whether bourbon or rye, add a fruit note that works with the orange peel and sugar already in the glass. The Manhattan is the other obvious home for it. Stir rye or bourbon with sweet vermouth, add a dash or two of cherry bitters alongside or in place of the usual aromatic bitters, and garnish with a cherry. A cherry-forward bitter also suits rum and brandy drinks, and some bartenders use it in a Sazerac-style build or a Martinez to add a darker fruit edge. Dosing is the key to using it well. Start with two or three dashes per drink and adjust from there, since bitters concentrate quickly and can crowd out a spirit if overused. Cherry bitters can also be paired with other bitters, such as aromatic or orange, to build more layers than any one bottle gives. For a non-spirit option, a couple of dashes in soda water or ginger beer over ice gives a dry, lightly bitter cherry highball. It also works with cola, and with tonic for a more bitter result. Serve cocktails made with it in the usual way for the style. Stirred whiskey drinks go in a chilled coupe or over a large cube in a rocks glass. Highballs go in a tall glass with plenty of ice. Keep the bottle capped and stored away from heat and direct light.