Red syrup for drinks is used in recipes to add extra color, flavor, and sweetness to cocktails. Any good bartender has a preference, but what should you purchase for your home bar?
We dug deep to find the red cocktail syrups with the best reviews, ingredients, and price points to fit every budget.
Learn about some of the most popular grenadine cocktails and try your hand at making homemade grenadine too!
Grenadine Syrups
Rose’s Grenadine
Rose’s Grenadine is a classic, simple grenadine that you can always rely on. Each 1-liter bottle costs just $11.92. In addition to the classic red color, this grenadine has natural pomegranate flavors sweetened with high fructose corn syrup.
More than 1,100 reviewers have given this grenadine a 5-star rating. People love this grenadine because of the affordable price point for a large bottle that will make a lot of drinks! Plus, you never have to worry about consistency – every bottle tastes the same since the ingredient list is short.
BG Reynolds Lush Grenadine
The Lush Grenadine from BG Reynolds is more expensive than Rose’s, but the difference in the syrups is clear from the packaging to the flavor. This grenadine is flavored with all-natural pomegranate juice flavoring and sweetened with high fructose corn syrup to create a perfectly thick, rich syrup.
Each 750 ml bottle costs $27.99, which may seem steep, but there are more than 2,300 reviewers who agree it’s worth the cost!
Liber & Co. Real Grenadine
This is the only grenadine on our list that isn’t sweetened with high fructose corn syrup. Instead, the Liber & Co. grenadine is sweetened with pure cane sugar and flavored with fresh pomegranate juice and orange blossom water. The simplistic, natural ingredients create a guilt-free grenadine that has an excellent flavor profile.
A 9.5-ounce bottle costs $17.99, and the grenadine is produced in Austin, Texas. Customers love supporting a USA-based brand and the addition of orange flower water that improves the taste.
Flavored Red Syrups
Torani Strawberry Syrup
Torani is one of the most popular brands for flavored syrups, so it’s no surprise they make one of the best strawberry syrups around.
This can be added to a cocktail, coffee, dessert, and more, so you’ll have no trouble using it! Each bottle is made with pure cane sugar, natural flavors, and cold filtered water for a smooth, pure berry flavor.
Torani also has a cherry-flavored syrup that uses similar methods and ingredients. Once you try one Torani flavored syrup, you’ll be ordering more flavors ASAP.
Torani Ruby Red Grapefruit Syrup
Most classic grenadines are pomegranate syrups with added sweetener, but this ruby red grapefruit syrup showcases the natural pomegranate flavors in a better way. The brilliant red syrup is naturally flavored and costs just $14.20 per 750 ml bottle.
This is one of the less popular flavors from Torani, but it’s an excellent pairing for cocktails.
Liquid Alchemist Strawberry Syrup
If you want a clean-label syrup for your cocktails, the Liquid Alchemist strawberry syrup is a great option.
This is gluten-free, non-GMO, and made with organic cane sugar. There are no artificial ingredients, flavors, or colors.
A 12-ounce bottle costs $18.99, or you can get a 25-ounce bottle for $28.99.
This is a good choice for people who try to live a clean lifestyle and limit the artificial ingredients they consume.
Jordan’s Skinny Mixes Sugar-Free Candy Apple Syrup
Jordan’s is the go-to brand if you’re trying to enjoy a cocktail without ruining your diet. This candy apple syrup has a bright red color with zero sugar, calories, or carbs. Yes, really!
You can add sweet candy apple flavor without going into your daily sugar, carb, or calorie intake. That means more delicious cocktails with fewer regrets the next day!
Jordan’s has a ton of flavors to explore, but this is the most vibrantly red option that could replace grenadine in cocktails.
Monin Rasberry Syrup
The raspberry syrup from Monin is just the right mix of sweet and tart that will elevate your cocktails more than traditional grenadine.
This is an excellent mixer for lemonade, too, so you don’t have to overthink complicated cocktails!
A 1-liter bottle costs $19.30 and will make a lot of cocktails. Monin raspberry won’t work in every recipe that calls for grenadine, but cocktails with a lot of fruit juices should pair nicely.
Homemade Grenadine Syrup Recipe
Making grenadine syrup at home is quick and easy with this grenadine recipe by Taste of Home. To begin, you need sugar, pomegranate juice, and a small saucepan. Heat the pomegranate juice and sugar until the sugar has fully dissolved. Remove from the heat, then get a covered container for storing your syrup.
If you want more complex flavors, add a splash of lemon or lime juice to the syrup before pouring it into the storage container. Homemade grenadine syrup can be stored for up to 4 weeks in the fridge, so you can have it on hand whenever a cocktail is calling your name.
Cocktails with Red Syrup
Jack Rose
by Liquor.com
The jack rose is a classic cocktail that looks fancy but requires just three ingredients. To make this pretty pink drink, apple brandy, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and grenadine is shaken with ice in a cocktail shaker before pouring into a coupe. You can serve the cocktail as-is or add a pop of yellow with a lemon twist garnish.
This is one of our favorite grenadine cocktails because it’s so simple and timeless. Serve this at a special occasion or make one for yourself after a long day without going to a bar.
Tequila Sunrise
by Food Network
Tequila sunrise is a tropical grenadine cocktail that’s hard to resist. Making this cocktail is simple, too, so it’s easy to serve at a party. Tequila and orange juice are added to a glass with ice and stirred first. Then, grenadine syrup is gently poured along the edge of the glass so it can sink to the bottom. The layered appearance looks impressive, but it comes together in no time.
Garnish with a couple of maraschino cherries and an orange slice before serving. If you don’t like tequila, you can easily use another spirit, such as gin or whiskey, instead.
Malibu Sunset
The malibu sunset cocktail is inspired by the tequila sunset. They look similar in the glass, but the key difference is the type of liquor used. Coconut rum is used instead of tequila, along with orange juice and grenadine syrup. Pineapple juice is also added for some extra sweetness.
FAQs
What is a red syrup for cocktails called?
Grenadine is the most common red syrup used in cocktail recipes. It’s the star ingredient in the classic non-alcoholic drink, the Shirley Temple.
What is grenadine used for in drinks?
Grenadine adds a bright pop of color and sweetness to any cocktail.
Is grenadine just cherry syrup?
No, grenadine is not flavored with cherry. It has pomegranate flavors and sweeteners like high fructose corn syrup.
Is grenadine the same as simple syrup?
Grenadine has added flavors that regular simple syrup doesn’t have, plus the vibrant red color.
Key Takeaways
- Grenadine is flavored with pomegranate, but it’s not the same as pomegranate juice.
- Drink recipes use red syrups for color and flavor.
- Red syrups with natural flavors are generally superior to those with artificial flavors.
- Other flavors of red syrups include strawberry, raspberry, apple, ruby red grapefruit, and cinnamon, just to name a few.
