Grenadine

How is Grenadine made?

Traditional grenadine starts with fresh pomegranate juice that's slowly simmered with sugar to create a rich, ruby-red syrup with a perfect balance of tart and sweet flavors. The best homemade versions use a 1:1 ratio of pomegranate juice to sugar, sometimes with a splash of lemon juice or orange flower water for complexity. Commercial grenadine often skips the pomegranates entirely, relying on high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavoring, and red dye to mimic the real thing—which explains why so many bar drinks taste flat compared to cocktails made with the genuine article.

How do you drink Grenadine?

Grenadine is almost exclusively used as a cocktail ingredient rather than sipped neat, as its intensely sweet, syrupy consistency and concentrated pomegranate flavor make it overwhelming on its own. You'll find this ruby-red syrup adding color and fruity sweetness to classic cocktails like Tequila Sunrises, Shirley Temples, and Hurricane drinks, plus countless tiki-style and tropical cocktails where its vibrant hue creates those Instagram-worthy layered effects. The bright, festive appearance of grenadine-based cocktails makes them perfect for summer parties, pool gatherings, and holiday celebrations when you want drinks that look as good as they taste.

How do I choose good Grenadine?

Skip the bright red corn syrup bottles from the liquor store and look for real pomegranate grenadine made with actual fruit juice—brands like Liber & Co., Small Hand Foods, or even homemade versions will completely transform your cocktails. Your drink choice should guide your selection: delicate classics like a Pink Lady call for a subtle, balanced grenadine that won't overpower the gin, while bold tiki drinks can handle more robust, tart varieties that stand up to rum and citrus. Read the ingredient list like your cocktail depends on it—because it does.

Nutritional Information

Typical Calorie Range per Ounce: 50-80 calories

Typical Carbohydrate Range per Ounce: 12-20 grams

Typical Sugar Range per Ounce: 12-18 grams

Typically Gluten Free: Yes

Most grenadine syrups are made from pomegranate juice, sugar, and water, making them naturally gluten-free. The calorie and sugar content can vary significantly between brands, with high-fructose corn syrup versions typically containing more calories than those made with cane sugar. Homemade grenadine tends to fall on the lower end of these ranges. Always check the specific product label for exact nutritional information and to confirm gluten-free status, especially if you have celiac disease or severe gluten sensitivity.

Scrolled this far? Your reward? Grenadine Trivia!

1. Real grenadine comes from pomegranates, not cherries. The name literally means "from Granada" in French, referencing the Spanish city famous for its pomegranates. That bright red corn syrup stuff you see at most bars? It's basically sugar water with food coloring pretending to be the real deal.
2. The original grenadine was actually clear, not red. Authentic pomegranate syrup made from white pomegranate juice was prized in 19th-century bartending. The ruby red color we associate with grenadine today came from marketing departments, not Mother Nature.
3. Grenadine was originally a medicine before it became a cocktail ingredient. French pharmacists in the 1800s used concentrated pomegranate syrup to mask the bitter taste of medications. Bartenders discovered this sweet solution and started sneaking it into drinks when customers weren't looking.
4. A single bottle of quality grenadine contains the juice of roughly 60 pomegranates. The labor-intensive process of extracting, reducing, and balancing the syrup explains why authentic grenadine costs significantly more than the artificial versions flooding the market.
5. Grenadine naturally ferments and can become mildly alcoholic if left unrefrigerated. Traditional recipes relied on this controlled fermentation to develop complex flavors, which is why vintage cocktail recipes often called for "aged" grenadine that had developed its own subtle boozy character.