Bluegrass Bitters Unveils Dark Cherry Bitters

Bluegrass Bitters is adding a bold new expression to its lineup with the launch of its Dark Cherry Bitters — the third bitters to join the brand’s award-winning portfolio, alongside the 5-Spice Orange and Black Walnut Bitters, both of which recently received Double Platinum recognitions from the 2026 ASCOT Awards. In honor of National Cherry Day, this Kentucky Proud artisanal brand’s release celebrates one of the cocktail world's most versatile flavors.

“Dark Cherry was the recipe that convinced me Bluegrass Bitters could be more than a hobby,” said founder Shawn Herbig. “I was making it at home, pairing it with the single barrel bourbons and spicy ryes my wife and I were drinking. I wanted a complex flavor that didn't compete with the spirit but didn't get lost either — and the cinnamon and vanilla notes, combined with the dark cherry, did something interesting with the spirit that kept drawing me back.”

Dark Cherry Bitters are fruit-forward with warm baking spices and a slightly sweet finish, with notes of cinnamon, vanilla, allspice and black pepper. These bitters are versatile and pair well with a rye or small-batch Kentucky bourbon, offering a complex flavor profile that enhances spirit-forward cocktails such as Old Fashioneds and Manhattans, Herbig noted.

Founded by Shawn Herbig, Louisville native and president and founder of market research and data analytics firm IQS Research, Bluegrass Bitters is Shawn’s long-awaited brainchild. Born from his meticulous research, science-driven precision and passion for well-crafted libations, Bluegrass Bitters was created to elevate the everyday at-home cocktail experience. Bluegrass Bitters launched last summer with its inaugural products, 5-Spice Orange Bitters and Smoky Simple Syrup, and expanded its product line with the introduction of Black Walnut Bitters in November.

“Getting that same balance right at production scale took longer than I expected, but keeping that flavor complexity makes it the most versatile bitters in our lineup. I can't wait for people to try it in their own Old Fashioned or Manhattan.”

Bluegrass Bitters Dark Cherry Bitters are available now online and at select retailers for individual purchase and in gift box and combo pack bundles. Dark Cherry Bitters are available in a 2-ounce bottle with a dropper lid and a 2-ounce bottle with a mister cap for $13.50 and $13.99, respectively. To shop, visit their website.

About Bluegrass Bitters:

Founded by husband-and-wife duo Shawn and Kathy Herbig, Bluegrass Bitters is the culmination of passion, experimentation and exceptional quality. Together, the team's shared passion to elevate the at-home cocktail experience became the driving force behind this Kentucky Proud cocktail bitters and syrup brand. Officially launched in 2025, the Bluegrass Bitters product line includes three uniquely curated bitters: 5-Spice Orange, Black Walnut and Dark Cherry; and a Smoky Simple Syrup. Bluegrass Bitters 5-Spice Orange Bitters, Black Walnut Bitters and Smoky Simple Syrup received Double Platinum recognitions in the 2026 ASCOT Awards. All Bluegrass Bitters offerings are gluten-free and produced and bottled in Kentucky with no artificial flavoring or colorings.