Fee Brothers Toasted Almond Bitters 5OZ

Fee Brothers Toasted Almond Bitters 5OZ is a 5-ounce cocktail bitters made with roasted almonds at 6.6% ABV in Rochester, New York. Earning a B+ from Good Spirits News, this expression delivers concentrated nutty depth that transforms drinks with just a few dashes.

Quick Facts: ABV: 6.6%  |  Origin: Rochester, New York, USA  |  Style: Flavored Cocktail Bitters  |  Producer: Fee Brothers

Production & Heritage

Fee Brothers has been producing drink mixers and bitters in Rochester, New York since 1864, making them one of the oldest bitters producers in the United States. The Toasted Almond expression is made in small batches using roasted almonds rather than raw nuts, a distinction that shifts the flavor profile from green and sharp toward warm, caramelized nuttiness. The base includes water, glycerine, natural and artificial flavors, natural extracts, and bitter almond oil — resulting in a low-ABV product at just 6.6% that functions as a concentrated flavoring agent rather than a spirit-strength bitters.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Pungent bitter almond leads immediately, followed by marzipan and a faint suggestion of sweet baked bread. There is a roasted, almost smoky undercurrent beneath the dominant nut character.

Taste: On the palate, bitterness is subdued, letting a generous wave of toasted almond take center stage. Mid-palate notes recall amaretto and fondant, with floral undertones adding unexpected complexity. The sweetness is more pronounced than in many traditional bitters, leaning toward vanilla and almond extract.

Finish: The finish is long and almond-forward, with a lingering bitterness that actually surpasses what appears on the palate. That tail-end bite provides necessary balance and keeps the sweetness from becoming cloying.

How to Drink Toasted Almond Bitters

These bitters work best as a supporting accent — two to four dashes added to finished cocktails or incorporated during the build. They are not designed for sipping on their own. In an Old Fashioned, a few dashes add a warm, nutty layer that pairs beautifully with bourbon's caramel backbone. In a Whiskey Sour, the roasted almond character complements the citrus and creates a richer, more dimensional drink. In a Tiki Mai Tai, these bitters serve as a convenient way to layer almond flavor alongside or in place of orgeat syrup, reinforcing the cocktail's classic nut and citrus interplay.

Best For

• Home bartenders building out a versatile bitters collection
• Adding nutty depth to whiskey-based stirred cocktails
• Replacing or supplementing orgeat syrup in tropical and tiki recipes
• Gifting alongside cocktail books or barware sets for enthusiasts

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Toasted Almond Bitters taste like? The dominant flavor is warm, roasted almond with undertones of marzipan, vanilla, and fondant, balanced by a lingering bitterness that emerges primarily on the finish.

How does Toasted Almond Bitters compare to amaretto liqueur? Both deliver almond flavor to cocktails, but amaretto is a full-bodied liqueur at roughly 28% ABV with significant sweetness and volume, while Toasted Almond Bitters is a concentrated 6.6% ABV accent used in dashes — it adds nuance without diluting a drink or dramatically increasing sweetness.

Is Toasted Almond Bitters good for cocktails? Yes — cocktails are the primary intended use, and the concentrated format allows bartenders to introduce almond flavor in precise, controlled amounts without altering a drink's balance.

Where is Toasted Almond Bitters made? Fee Brothers produces this bitters at their facility in Rochester, New York, where the company has been based since its founding in 1864.

What foods pair well with Toasted Almond Bitters? While designed for drinks, the flavor profile complements desserts with stone fruit and nut components: almond cake, biscotti, pear tart, dark chocolate truffles, and dishes featuring toasted nuts or brown butter.

What sizes does Toasted Almond Bitters come in? The standard retail size is the 5-ounce (150 ml) dasher bottle, which is the most widely available format for this expression.

Is Toasted Almond Bitters worth the price? As a specialty cocktail bitters, this positions in the affordable accessory tier — a single bottle lasts through dozens of cocktails, making it one of the most cost-efficient ways to add genuine almond complexity to a home bar.

Why Toasted Almond Bitters?

The use of roasted almonds rather than raw nuts gives this expression a warmer, more caramelized personality that separates it from generic almond flavorings. Fee Brothers' 160-year history in Rochester lends genuine production credibility — this is not a newcomer's novelty product. The low ABV and concentrated dasher-bottle format make it uniquely practical: bartenders gain precise control over almond flavor without the volume or sugar load that comes with liqueurs or syrups. For anyone serious about building layered, nuanced cocktails at home or behind a professional bar, this is a focused tool that fills a very specific gap.