Bittermilk

The original Bittermilk line is everything you need for a cocktail in a bottle, minus the booze. And the recipes are painstakingly put together.

For the Charred Grapefruit Tonic, the team hand torches grapefruit peels on premise. And Bittermilk owner Joe Raya drives to Willett Distillery in Kentucky to pick up old bourbon barrels (you can see a photo below) for the Bourbon Barrel Aged Old Fashioned… from time to time, they make it with Pappy Van Winkle barrels, too.

Everything is made and bottled by hand at the company’s facility in North Charleston. We spent some time there and it’s a serious operation with a kitchen, bottling line and large warehouse.

The company also makes Tippleman’s premium cocktail syrups (the Double Spiced Falernum was our favorite) and its more accessible Barcoop Bevy mixers, aimed more at the individual consumer.

Yes, Bittermilk was originally meant for booze. But you should also keep these excellent concoctions in mind for your zero proof bar. You can simply mix them with soda to class up your beverage, or you can include them in more complex recipes (like the one we’ve included on this page).

The team at Bittermilk is warm and welcoming. And they’re making their products with love. Pick up a bottle next time you see it on the shelves.