I recently had the pleasure of trying a few products from Dashfire Bitters and I have to say they are quite impressive. I tried their Brandy Old Fashioned Bitters, Ancient Chinese Secret Bitters, and Vintage Orange Bitters.

The Brandy Old Fashioned Bitters (38% ABV) have a rich, sweet molasses flavor with some spicy notes of cinnamon and clove. I crafted an old fashioned with these using Bulleit Bourbon and it was delicious, the spicy flavors from the bitters really added to the spicy flavors of Bulleit Bourbon and the cocktail had a slight coffee cake flavor which I really enjoyed.

The Ancient Chinese Secret Bitters (43% ABV) had a noticeable licorice aroma but a mix of spicy and sweet flavors like anise, clove, cinnamon, ginger, apricot, and oranges. They added a great deal of spice flavor to the old fashioned I made and the flavors seemed authentic and not artificial.

Their signature product, Dashfire Vintage Orange No. 1 Bitters (45% ABV), are aged in a Minnesota-made white oak barrel and are Minnesota’s first and only barrel aged bitters. There is a burst of fresh orange flavor with some similar spice flavors of nutmeg, cinnamon, and anise. You definitely get a barrel aged taste with these and a great balance between sweet and spicy.

I really enjoyed all three of the bitters I tried from Dashfire’s line. There must have been a fair amount of trial and error that went into these to get them right but they indeed did just that. They are great products and surely deserve a spot on any home bar. The flavors are genuine and you can tell they are high quality. Dashfire’s mission was to create hand-crafted blends that can be used by everyone who appreciates a quality cocktail. Especially for folks like me who are still trying to perfect their cocktail skills. I highly recommend Dashfire Bitters not only for the great flavors they provide but for the quality of the products.

History: The force behind Dashfire, Lee Egbert, is driven by an unending curiosity coupled with an appetite for travel and a desire to learn all he can about the flavors and spices of different cultures.  Lee lived in China for a year and a half, and has also travelled extensively in Thailand, Malaysia, India, Sri Lanka, Morocco, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize, where he had the opportunity to learn first-hand about local herbs and spices as well as spirits and food.  The inspiration for all Dashfire products is drawn from these experiences and flavors, as can be clearly seen in Mr. Lee’s Ancient Chinese Secret Bitters and Dashfire’s unique line of Tinctures.  So imbibe with the peace of mind and knowledge that every effort was put into making our creations with the highest regard for the ingredients.