Grenadine

Pomegranate syrup — red, sweet, tart, and abused by decades of bad grocery-store versions.

Syrups & Sweeteners
Flavor profile: sweetfruitysour

Real grenadine is a syrup of pomegranate juice and sugar — tart, deep red, complex. Commercial grenadine is typically corn syrup with red dye and artificial flavor. The difference in a Tequila Sunrise or Shirley Temple is dramatic. Small Hand Foods and Liber & Co. make outstanding commercial grenadines; making your own at home takes ten minutes (pomegranate juice and sugar, gently reduced).

History

'Grenadine' derives from grenade, the French word for pomegranate. The syrup was originally a bar staple in the 19th century before industrial production replaced pomegranate with cheaper ingredients.

Common uses

Tequila Sunrise, Shirley Temple, Jack Rose, Hurricane.

Cocktails that use Grenadine

  • Hurricane — Dark and light rum with passion fruit and citrus — New Orleans' Pat O'Brien's classic
  • Rum Punch — One of sour, two of sweet, three of strong, four of weak — the Caribbean formula
  • Tequila Sunrise — Tequila and orange juice with a grenadine sunrise — iconic and photogenic
  • Shirley Temple — Ginger ale, grenadine, and orange juice — the original mocktail, beloved since the 1930s
  • Roy Rogers — Cola and grenadine — the classic mocktail for those who want the bar experience