Fee Brothers’ History:

In 1864, James Fee opened a grocery and liquor store in Rochester, NY to help support his large, close-knit family. His brothers helped him grow the store into a successful winery and wine import business. The name was changed from James Fee & Company to Fee Brothers in 1883.

Surviving Prohibition: 

When prohibition began in 1920, Fee Brothers kept themselves afloat by making altar wine & distributing wine-making supplies. They even consulted with homeowners to legally make their own wine at home. It was legal to make a small amount of wine for personal use, but making and selling stronger spirits was strictly forbidden.

That didn’t stop people from trying though, and poor quality alcohol flooded the market. Most of the people making this black market booze had no clue what they were doing. For that reason, most of the alcohol being sold in saloons and speakeasies tasted terrible. Fee Brothers saw this as an opportunity and developed a line of cordial syrups and drink flavorings. They designed them to make inferior spirits taste like the real thing. Benedictine, Chartreuse, Brandy, and Rum flavorings were among their most popular products.

Cocktail Bitters:

When prohibition ended in 1933, Fee Brothers started selling liquor again. They kept making their cordial syrups though, and they remained very popular. Therefore, they soon decided to focus on mixers, syrups, and flavorings instead. By 1950 they were on a never-ending quest to develop new products and their flavored cocktail bitters line really became a focus. Fee Brothers’ product list now boasts almost 100 drink mix products. Today they’re best know for their huge selection of flavored cocktail bitters.

Black Walnut Bitters:

Fee Brothers Black Walnut bitters combine the bitterness and robust nutty flavor of black walnuts with a hint of warm spice. Perfect for fall and winter cocktails, these bitters pair well with sweet and savory flavors alike. Black walnut is ideal with whiskey and smoky flavors like scotch or mezcal, but can also be incredibly versatile. Please watch the video below to see how to put black walnut bitters to use in your home bar.

Black Walnut Old Fashioned

1 sugar cube
6 dashes black walnut bitters
2 oz bourbon whiskey
orange peel

Place a sugar cube in an old fashioned or rocks glass and moisten with walnut bitters. Crush cube with a muddler or the back of a bar spoon. Add bourbon and stir with a cocktail spoon until the sugar begins to dissolve. Add ice and stir until well chilled. Garnish with an orange peel and enjoy!