Fee Brothers Black Walnut Bitters 5OZ

Fee Brothers Black Walnut Bitters 5OZ is a glycerin-based cocktail bitters delivering concentrated black walnut flavor at 6.4% ABV in a 5-ounce dasher bottle. Scored 93 points by tastings.com in 2013, this expression stands as one of the few commercially available black walnut bitters on the American market — a genuinely distinctive modifier in a category crowded with aromatic and citrus options.

Quick Facts: ABV: 6.4%  |  Origin: Rochester, New York, USA  |  Style: Black Walnut Bitters  |  Producer: Fee Brothers

Production & Heritage

Fee Brothers has been producing bitters and drink mixers in Rochester, New York since 1864, when four German immigrant brothers established the company. Unlike most bitters producers that build their formulas on a high-proof spirits base, Fee Brothers uses vegetable glycerin as its foundation — a technique the company adopted during Prohibition and has maintained ever since. The Black Walnut expression is flavored with natural black walnut flavoring along with a blend of other natural and artificial extracts, resulting in a viscous, intensely nutty modifier that behaves differently from spirit-based alternatives, contributing body and sweetness alongside bitterness.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Toasted walnut leads immediately, followed by bark-like cola and subtle warm spice. Deeper earthy undertones emerge with time, hinting at cocoa and roasted nuts.

Taste: Bold black walnut flavor arrives on the palate first, with a sweet undercurrent of molasses and caramel building through the mid-palate. Notes of hazelnut and unsweetened chocolate develop as the bitterness gently asserts itself, balanced by the glycerin base's natural sweetness and smooth mouthfeel.

Finish: A lingering nutty bitterness anchors the finish, accompanied by a root-beer-like herbal quality and a faint touch of residual sweetness. The overall impression is warm, rounded, and moderately long.

How to Drink Black Walnut Bitters

Two to three dashes is the standard measure for most cocktail applications; this is a modifier, not a sipping product. The rich walnut and molasses character makes it a natural fit for dark-spirit cocktails.

• Old Fashioned: Replacing or blending with standard aromatic bitters adds a roasted, nutty depth that pairs exceptionally well with bourbon or rye.
• Manhattan: A dash or two introduces an earthy complexity that complements sweet vermouth and aged whiskey without overpowering the drink.
• Espresso Martini: The cocoa and walnut notes mirror and amplify coffee's roasted character, adding a layer of bitterness beyond what the espresso alone provides.

Best For

• Home bartenders looking to expand beyond standard aromatic and orange bitters
• Adding autumnal depth to whiskey-based cocktails during cooler months
• Gifting to a cocktail enthusiast who already owns the basics
• Professional bars seeking a niche modifier for seasonal menu development

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Black Walnut Bitters taste like? It delivers a pronounced toasted walnut and molasses flavor with supporting notes of caramel, unsweetened cocoa, and a gentle root-beer-like bitterness on the finish. The glycerin base gives it a slightly sweeter, more viscous profile than spirit-based bitters.

How does Fee Brothers Black Walnut Bitters compare to Strongwater Black Walnut Bitters? Strongwater uses a spirit base, which tends to produce a drier, sharper bitterness, while Fee Brothers' glycerin foundation yields a sweeter, rounder mouthfeel. Fee Brothers is also far more widely distributed and easier to source in the United States.

Is Black Walnut Bitters good for cocktails? It is designed specifically as a cocktail modifier — two to three dashes transform an Old Fashioned or Manhattan by introducing roasted walnut and subtle cocoa complexity. Its concentrated flavor means a single 5-ounce bottle lasts through dozens of drinks.

Where is Fee Brothers Black Walnut Bitters made? It is produced by Fee Brothers in Rochester, New York, where the company has operated continuously since 1864. All Fee Brothers bitters are manufactured at their Rochester facility.

What foods pair well with Black Walnut Bitters? A few dashes work well in dessert sauces for pecan pie or brownies, where the walnut and cocoa notes reinforce nutty, chocolate flavors. It also complements aged cheeses like Gruyère, maple-glazed pork dishes, and dark chocolate truffles. A dash stirred into coffee or hot chocolate adds surprising aromatic depth.

What sizes does Black Walnut Bitters come in? Fee Brothers Black Walnut Bitters is available in the standard 5-ounce (150 ml) dasher bottle, which is the company's primary format for their bitters line.

Is Black Walnut Bitters worth the price? It positions as an affordable specialty bitters — priced in line with other Fee Brothers expressions and well below many small-batch artisan competitors. Given the 5-ounce bottle's longevity when used a few dashes at a time, the cost per cocktail is negligible.

Why Black Walnut Bitters?

Fee Brothers Black Walnut Bitters occupies a genuinely rare niche: it is one of only a handful of commercially available black walnut bitters in the United States, and easily the most widely distributed. The glycerin-based production method — a direct legacy of the company's Prohibition-era survival strategy — gives it a sweeter, more full-bodied texture than spirit-based alternatives, making it immediately accessible even for those unaccustomed to bitters. Its 93-point rating from tastings.com confirms a well-balanced product rather than a novelty gimmick. For anyone looking to push beyond aromatic and orange bitters into genuinely distinctive cocktail territory, this is one of the most practical and affordable entry points available.