Fee Brothers Grapefrui Bitters

Grapefruit bitters is a concentrated flavoring made for dashes, not pours. Expect a bright citrus-peel aroma, a clear grapefruit bitterness with some sweetness behind it, and a dry, slightly pithy finish. Fee Brothers is a long-established bitters brand, and its citrus-led bottles are common on back bars. The bottle label gives no ABV, so check it before you pour. Bitters in this style are usually high in alcohol but used in tiny amounts, and they are not meant to be sipped straight. The simplest way to use it is two or three dashes in a glass of soda water over ice, with a grapefruit or lemon wedge. That makes a dry, low-sugar drink that tastes of citrus. It also works well in cocktails that already use grapefruit or other citrus. A few dashes in a Paloma sharpen the grapefruit soda and tequila without adding sweetness. In a Greyhound (vodka or gin with grapefruit juice) they add peel-like aroma that fresh juice can lack. Gin cocktails suit it especially well. Try a dash in a gin and tonic, a Tom Collins, or a dry martini, where the citrus notes pick up the juniper. It can also stand in for or add to Angostura-style bitters in an Old Fashioned built on bourbon or rye. That gives a lighter, more citrus-forward version of the drink, and an orange peel garnish goes well with it. For measuring, start with one or two dashes per drink and build up, because bitters are strong. Add them to the glass before the ice, or float them on top of a finished cocktail so the aroma reaches you first. A cold rocks glass or highball is enough, and no special glassware is needed. Because it is so concentrated, a single bottle lasts through many drinks. Keep it capped and out of direct light, and it should stay stable on a bar shelf.