Fee Brothers Turkish Tobacco Bitters is a bold and unconventional addition to the Fee Brothers lineup, designed to evoke the rich, earthy aroma of sun-cured Turkish tobacco without using any actual tobacco in its ingredients. Instead, these bitters are crafted using natural flavours and botanicals, capturing the essence of pipe tobacco with warm, spiced notes of coffee, nutmeg, clove, and a subtle smoky finish. This distinctive flavour makes it a favourite for bartenders seeking to add depth and a touch of mystery to darker-spirited cocktails.

The production process uses a base of glycerin rather than alcohol, a tradition Fee Brothers adopted during Prohibition to continue trading legally. Into this base, the company infuses a proprietary blend of spices, extracts, and natural flavours designed to emulate the profile of cured tobacco leaf. The result is a non-alcoholic bitters that brings complexity and intrigue to drinks without overpowering them.

These bitters are especially well-suited to stirred classics like the Old Fashioned or Manhattan, where their earthy, smoky undertones can shine alongside whiskey or dark rum. They also work beautifully in creative cocktails with mezcal, amaro, or coffee liqueurs, and can be used in desserts or baking for a savoury twist in recipes featuring chocolate or molasses.

Bitters themselves have their roots in the apothecaries of the 18th century, originally used as medicinal tinctures before finding their way into the world of cocktails. By the 1800s, bitters were a mainstay in mixology, adding balance and complexity to drinksessentially acting as the seasoning in the cocktail world.

Fee Brothers, founded in Rochester, New York in 1864, has remained a family-run business for over 160 years. Known for its creativity and wide range of flavour-focused bitters, the company is now managed by the fifth generation of the Fee family. Throughout its history, Fee Brothers has navigated the challenges of changing tastes and even Prohibition with resilience and innovation, today standing as one of the most respected names in cocktail bitters worldwide.