Crafting cocktails at home can be daunting, especially when you come across a lengthy list of ingredients you don’t have, and heading to the store isn’t appealing. Who wants to invest in a bottle that might sit unused after a single use?
The reality is, several common cocktail syrups are simple to make at home, and there’s a pleasure in knowing you can enjoy them whenever you wish.
Consider grenadine. Perusing the ingredients in many store-bought versions reveals artificial flavors and dyes. But honestly, you don’t need any of that!
At its core, grenadine is simply a syrup made with pomegranates and sugar, perhaps with an extra flavor for complexity. It comes together effortlessly with minimal kitchen work, even if you choose to juice your own pomegranates. Give it a try—you might enjoy it!
What’s Grenadine?
Grenadine is a syrup derived from pomegranate juice. It’s nonalcoholic and primarily used in cocktails and mocktails. You can add a splash of vodka to extend its shelf life.
This homemade grenadine is a blend of fresh pomegranate juice, sugar, pomegranate molasses, and orange flower water. The orange flower water adds a subtle floral note to enhance the pomegranate flavor.
How To Use Grenadine?
Grenadine is featured in two popular drinks you may be familiar with.
The Shirley Temple, a classic children’s beverage—often served at events from weddings to family gatherings—and the Tequila Sunrise, which gets its signature color gradient from grenadine sinking through a mixture of tequila and orange juice.
Expand your horizons by trying it in a Hurricane, Pink Lady, Jack Rose, or Ward 8 cocktail.
History of Grenadine
Grenadine has been a staple in bars since the late 1800s, and it’s often associated with Rose’s Grenadine from Canada Dry Mott’s Inc.
Modern commercial grenadine lacks real fruit juice, containing only flavorings and colorants. While it offers a bright red hue, it misses the sweet-tart richness of authentic pomegranate juice.
To Juice or Not to Juice a Pomegranate
The quality of pomegranates available at my local store has been inconsistent lately—sometimes, after juicing them, the results are disappointing.
When you find a good pomegranate, the resulting grenadine is delicious, but if not, you might question if it’s worth the effort. The time, the mess, and the stained fingers can be off-putting!
You can opt for store-bought pomegranate juice instead. I recommend Knudsen or POM Wonderful, both pure pomegranate juice with no additives.
The main difference between fresh pomegranate juice grenadine and one made with bottled juice is color; bottled juice tends to be darker, whereas fresh juice is very vibrant.
How to Store, Where to Store, and How Long to Keep Homemade Grenadine
Store grenadine in the refrigerator in an airtight container or swing top bottle. Use within one month when made without vodka. Adding vodka extends its shelf life to around 3 months, but keep it refrigerated.
Variations, Swaps or Substitutions
Orange flower water and pomegranate molasses are key ingredients in this recipe but are optional if they are hard to find.
The grenadine will have a simpler flavor profile without these ingredients, but it will still offer that sweet-tart pomegranate taste to your beverages.
Cocktail Recipes to Try Next:
This recipe uses 2 cups of pomegranate juice. You can purchase the juice or extract it from 2 to 3 pomegranates yourself.
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2 cups pomegranate juice from 2-3 large pomegranates
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1 cup granulated sugar
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1/2 teaspoon orange flower water
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1 tablespoon pomegranate molasses
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1 ounce vodka, optional
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Simmer pomegranate juice and sugar:
In a small saucepan, combine the pomegranate juice and sugar and whisk until dissolved. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to medium-low for a vigorous simmer with small bubbles along the edges but no large bubbles.
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Simmer to reduce pomegranate liquid:
Continue to simmer until the mixture has reduced to about a third, leaving approximately 1 2/3 cups of liquid. This usually takes 20 to 30 minutes as the liquid should thicken to a honey-like consistency.
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Let grenadine cool to room temperature:
Remove from heat and let it cool to room temperature. Stir in the orange flower water and pomegranate molasses. If desired, add the vodka.
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Store the grenadine:
Transfer the grenadine to an airtight container or swing top bottle. Refrigerate for 1 to 3 months.
| Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
|---|---|
| 39 | Calories |
| 0g | Fat |
| 10g | Carbs |
| 0g | Protein |
×
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings: 13 to 28 | |
| Amount per serving | |
| Calories | 39 |
| % Daily Value* | |
| 0g | 0% |
| Saturated Fat 0g | 0% |
| 0mg | 0% |
| 2mg | 0% |
| 10g | 4% |
| Dietary Fiber 0g | 0% |
| Total Sugars 10g | |
| 0g | |
| Vitamin C 0mg | 0% |
| Calcium 2mg | 0% |
| Iron 0mg | 0% |
| Potassium 43mg | 1% |
| *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. | |
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.
