#FOOD: BRENTON MOWFORTH AKA CHEERSTOHAPPYHOUR INTRODUCES BALSAM FIR BITTERS

What began with a few balsam fir clippings and an experiment at home has grown into a distinctly Canadian addition to the cocktail bar scene. Brenton Mowforth, cocktail creator behind CheersToHappyHour, introduces Balsam Fir Bitters, an aromatic bitters expression built around one of the country’s most emblematic botanicals and produced with Toronto’s Nickel 9 Distillery.

The bitters explore a flavour deeply connected to the Canadian landscape, yet still largely underrepresented behind the bar.

The idea first took shape during a particularly meaningful holiday season for Mowforth and his wife. With their daughter on the way, the couple bought a real Christmas tree, embracing the nostalgia and tradition of the season. When the holidays came to an end, Mowforth found himself reluctant to simply throw the tree away. Curious about what could be done with its fragrant balsam fir, he called his friends at Nickel 9 Distillery with an unusual idea: could the tree be distilled into gin?

Before Nickel 9 Distillery came to collect it, Mowforth clipped a few branches and set them aside for an experiment of his own. He packed the balsam fir into a mason jar with juniper, clove, cardamom and cinnamon, then covered the botanicals with high-proof neutral grain spirit. Over several months, the spirit slowly extracted the fir’s resinous, aromatic character. What emerged was earthy, warming and evocative of the Canadian wilderness. It was also the first version of what would become Balsam Fir Bitters.

Mowforth began passing small bottles to bartenders around Toronto. Their response changed the direction of what had started as a personal experiment. He returned to Nickel 9 with the recipe, this time with the beginnings of a product that could bring a distinctly Canadian flavour behind the bar year-round.

Canadian Terroir at Its Core
Balsam fir is unmistakably Canadian. Native to North America, approximately 80% of its modeled distribution falls within Canada, with the species especially abundant throughout the cool forests of Eastern Canada. Its range stretches from Newfoundland and Labrador west to Alberta, making it a botanical deeply connected to the country’s forest landscape.
Aromatic, resinous and fresh, balsam fir brings a true sense of place to the bitters and offers a compelling expression of Canadian terroir through flavour.

Rather than treating balsam fir as a background note, Mowforth places the botanical at the centre of the flavour profile. Layered with juniper, clove, cardamom and cinnamon, the bitters are earthy and aromatic, with fresh forest notes, warming spice and hints of citrus.
Mowforth describes the product as “the essence of the Great White North,” taking a flavour rooted in the Canadian landscape and giving it a new expression behind the bar.

Built for the Bar, Year-Round
Balsam Fir Bitters were developed with versatility in mind. While the evergreen character may feel immediately familiar, its applications extend well beyond the colder months.

The earthy, aromatic profile works particularly well with aged spirits, complementing oak, spice and richer flavours. At the same time, its freshness and subtle citrus notes can add structure and complexity to lighter and fruit-driven cocktails, pairing naturally with ingredients ranging from pineapple and citrus to apple and pear.

That versatility allows balsam fir to move across seasons, bringing depth to stirred, spirit-forward cocktails in colder months while adding an unexpected botanical edge to brighter drinks throughout spring and summer.

For Mowforth, the goal is as much about introducing the ingredient as it is about the finished product. Balsam Fir Bitters invite bartenders and drinkers to experience a familiar Canadian botanical in an entirely different context and explore how it can function within a contemporary beverage program.

What’s Next for Balsam Fir Bitters
Balsam Fir Bitters are currently available for $17.95 at Cocktail Emporium locations and through its e-commerce shop, as well as at Nickel 9 Distillery.

Looking ahead, Mowforth is focused on expanding Balsam Fir Bitters beyond Toronto, with broader Canadian distribution and collaborations with bars and bartenders already being explored.

What began as a small experiment has evolved into a product rooted in Canadian flavour and shaped by the bartending community around it.

As Balsam Fir Bitters reach more bars and shelves, the focus remains the same: giving bartenders a distinctive, versatile ingredient with a strong sense of place and plenty of room for interpretation.

Product Details
Product: Balsam Fir Bitters
Created by: Brenton Mowforth, CheersToHappyHour
Produced with: Nickel 9 Distillery
Flavour Profile: Earthy, aromatic and warm, with fresh forest notes and hints of citrus
Botanicals: Balsam fir, juniper, clove, cardamom and cinnamon
Retail Price: $17.95
ABV: 55% / 100mL / 3.4oz bottle
Available at: Cocktail Emporium stores, Cocktail Emporium online and Nickel 9 Distillery
Link to Purchase: HERE

About Brenton Mowforth / CheersToHappyHour
Brenton Mowforth is the cocktail creator behind CheersToHappyHour and one of Canada’s most recognizable cocktail content creators. Through his work, Mowforth explores cocktail culture, original recipes and collaborations with bartenders and hospitality professionals.