Fee Brothers Cranberry Bitters

Fee Brothers Cranberry Bitters is a flavoring bitters, not a drink to pour by the glass. It is sold in a small dasher-style bottle and measured in dashes and drops. Expect a tart, fruit-forward profile with the bitter backbone typical of the category. The cranberry brings a sharp red-berry acidity that most bitters lack, and the bittering botanicals keep the sweetness in check. Bitters in this style usually have little sweetness of their own, so they season a drink without making it sugary. The exact botanical recipe and ABV aren't given here, so check the bottle label for strength and ingredients. The best use is as a cocktail modifier. A few dashes in a Champagne cocktail, with a sugar cube or a splash of simple syrup, adds a tart red-berry note and a hint of color to sparkling wine. In a Cosmopolitan, it reinforces the cranberry already in the glass and gives the drink a drier, more structured finish. It also suits a Whiskey Sour or an Old Fashioned built on bourbon or rye, where the fruit acidity sits well against caramel and spice. In a gin and tonic, two or three dashes add a berry accent without much extra sweetness. A Moscow Mule or a vodka and soda also works, since the bitters add tartness and depth to a simple mixer. For dosing, start with two to three dashes per drink and adjust from there. These are concentrated products, and too many dashes will dominate a delicate spirit. Add the bitters to the glass before the ice, or float a few dashes on top of a finished drink so the aroma reaches the nose first. Serve stirred drinks chilled in a coupe or rocks glass, and sparkling serves in a flute. Bitters aren't meant to be sipped neat, and they aren't a digestif or aperitif on their own. For a no-alcohol option, a few dashes in a tall glass of soda water with ice and a lime wedge makes a dry, lightly tart refresher. They also work in holiday and fall drinks, such as hot spiced cider or a cranberry-and-rum punch, where the extra tartness balances the sugar. Keep the bottle capped and stored at room temperature away from direct light. A small bottle lasts a long time at a few dashes per drink.