Fee Brothers Plum Bitters 5OZ

Fee Brothers Plum Bitters 5OZ is a glycerine-based aromatic bitters bottled at 12% ABV in a 5oz dasher bottle, delivering concentrated bittersweet plum and warm cinnamon spice. As one of the only commercially available plum-flavored bitters on the U.S. market, this expression fills a genuine gap in the cocktail ingredient landscape.

Quick Facts: ABV: 12%  |  Origin: Rochester, New York, USA  |  Aromatic Bitters  |  Producer: Fee Brothers

Production & Heritage

Fee Brothers has been producing cocktail ingredients in Rochester, New York since 1864, making it one of the oldest bitters manufacturers in the United States. Now in its fourth generation of family ownership, the company takes a distinctive approach with this expression: rather than using a high-proof alcohol base like most traditional bitters, Plum Bitters relies on a glycerine base. The ingredient list includes water, glycerine, natural plum flavor, and both natural and artificial spice flavors and extracts — resulting in a noticeably sweeter, lower-alcohol product compared to spirit-based competitors like Angostura or Peychaud's.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with a pungent, unmistakable ripe plum character followed by warm cinnamon. A sweet-tart quality emerges underneath, giving the impression of stewed stone fruit dusted with baking spices.

Taste: On the palate, bittersweet plum arrives immediately, quickly joined by herbal spice with cinnamon as the most prominent note. The mid-palate carries a quality reminiscent of red licorice — slightly candy-like but balanced by the underlying bitterness. The glycerine base lends a rounder, sweeter mouthfeel than alcohol-based bitters typically deliver.

Finish: The finish is moderate in length with lingering plum sweetness and a subtle herbal dryness. Cinnamon spice trails off gently, leaving a faintly tart impression.

How to Drink Plum Bitters

A few dashes go a long way — this is a cocktail modifier, not a sipper. The concentrated plum and spice profile works best as a seasonal or creative twist on classic recipes.

• Plum Old Fashioned: Swap standard aromatic bitters for 2-3 dashes of Plum Bitters with bourbon or rye; the stone fruit character adds autumnal depth.
• Manhattan variation: The cinnamon-plum combination pairs naturally with sweet vermouth and rye whiskey, adding a fruity complexity to the drink.
• Champagne cocktail: A few dashes on a sugar cube topped with sparkling wine introduces a subtle stone fruit dimension that feels more interesting than traditional Angostura in this format.

Best For

• Home bartenders looking to expand beyond standard aromatic and orange bitters
• Autumn and winter cocktail menus built around stone fruit and warm spice
• Gifting to a cocktail enthusiast who already has the basics covered
• Experimenting with unique twists on whiskey-forward classics

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Fee Brothers Plum Bitters taste like? It delivers a bittersweet ripe plum flavor with prominent cinnamon and herbal spice, sometimes compared to a plum-flavored Campari-like bitter liqueur. The glycerine base makes it noticeably sweeter and rounder than most alcohol-based bitters.

How does Plum Bitters compare to Fee Brothers Old Fashion Aromatic Bitters? Fee Brothers Old Fashion Aromatic Bitters offers a more traditional gentian-and-spice profile, while Plum Bitters trades that classic backbone for a fruit-forward, stone-fruit character with a sweeter glycerine base — both are 12% ABV and glycerine-based, but they serve very different roles in cocktails.

Is Plum Bitters good for cocktails? Yes — it was designed specifically as a cocktail modifier and works best in dashes added to whiskey-forward drinks, sparkling wine cocktails, or anywhere you want a bittersweet plum accent. It is not intended for drinking on its own.

Where is Plum Bitters made? Fee Brothers Plum Bitters is produced in Rochester, New York by Fee Brothers, a family-owned company that has been making bitters and cocktail ingredients since 1864.

What foods pair well with Plum Bitters? Used as a finishing dash or ingredient, Plum Bitters complements roasted pork loin (the plum-spice echoes classic plum sauce), dark chocolate desserts (cinnamon and stone fruit amplify cocoa), baked brie with fruit preserves, spiced autumn cakes, and aged cheeses where a few drops add a surprising bitter-fruit accent.

What sizes does Plum Bitters come in? Fee Brothers Plum Bitters is available in a standard 5oz (150ml) dasher bottle, which is the format used across most of the Fee Brothers bitters line.

Is Plum Bitters worth the price? It positions as an affordable specialty cocktail ingredient — a single 5oz bottle delivers dozens of cocktails at a few dashes per drink, making the cost per serve very low. For anyone who wants to move beyond vanilla bitters options, it represents strong value.

Why Plum Bitters?

Fee Brothers Plum Bitters occupies a genuinely unique niche: it is one of the only commercially available plum-flavored bitters on the American market. Backed by over 160 years of bitters-making expertise from one of Rochester's oldest family businesses, this expression brings a specific stone fruit and cinnamon character that no standard aromatic or citrus bitters can replicate. The glycerine base makes it more approachable and sweeter than traditional high-proof bitters, which can be an advantage in fruit-forward or sparkling cocktails. For bartenders and home enthusiasts who have already stocked the essentials, Plum Bitters is the kind of specialty ingredient that opens up entirely new directions.