How to Make Grenadine

Whether you're a professional bartender or just love impressing your guests, making your own homemade cocktail mixers allows you to control the quality and flavor of your signature drinks. Grenadine is an essential bar ingredient that is perfect for preparing everything from reliable fan favorites to eye-catching concoctions. We’ll guide you through the simple process of making grenadine from scratch, so you can elevate your cocktails and have your customers coming back for more.

What Is Grenadine?

Grenadine is a vibrant red syrup known for its sweet and tangy flavor, adding a burst of fruity goodness to cocktails, mocktails, and even desserts. It is made from pomegranate juice, sugar, and sometimes lemon juice. With its versatile nature, grenadine is a staple ingredient in many bar setups, coffee shops, and restaurants, allowing for endless creative possibilities in crafting delicious and visually appealing beverages.

How to Make Grenadine Video

Instead of giving your customers a dose of red food coloring and high fructose corn syrup in their drinks, delight them with the natural sweetness of homemade grenadine! Learn how to make grenadine for your bar with this video:

Homemade Grenadine Recipe

Brew up a vibrant and delicious homemade cocktail mixer by following our grenadine recipe.

How to Make Your Own Grenadine

Grenadine Ingredients:

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup 100% unsweetened pomegranate juice
  • 1/2 ounce lemon juice (optional)

Directions:

  1. Pour juice and sugar into saucepan.
  2. Over medium heat, stir mixture and bring to boil. Be careful not to overboil.
  3. Turn heat down and allow liquid to thicken.
  4. Allow to cool and slowly add drops of lemon juice to taste.
  5. Pour mixture into jar and screw lid on tightly.

Grenadine Cocktails

Grenadine syrup next to two brightly colored cocktails

Grenadine syrup is a key ingredient in a wide range of popular cocktails. Its tangy flavor profile adds depth and complexity to these drinks, balancing out the alcohol and enhancing the overall taste experience. Here are some drinks with grenadine for your bar menu:

  • Shirley Temple
  • Tequila Sunrise
  • Hurricane
  • Zombie
  • Malibu Sunset

In addition to cocktails, grenadine syrup can also be used in non-alcoholic beverages and mocktails, such as lemonades, iced teas, and fruit punches. Its vibrant red color makes these drinks visually appealing, while its sweet taste provides a refreshing burst of flavor.

Grenadine FAQs

Here are some of the most common questions regarding grenadine cocktail mix:

What’s in Grenadine?

two grenadine cocktails in stemless glasses

Traditionally, grenadine is made from pomegranate juice, sugar, and sometimes a small amount of lemon juice. However, it is important to note that many commercially available grenadine syrups may not actually contain any pomegranate juice at all. Instead, they are often made with artificial flavors, colors, and sweeteners. These artificial versions can still provide the desired taste and appearance, but it is always best to check the ingredient list to ensure the quality and authenticity of the product.

Is Grenadine Cherry?

While it is commonly associated with cherries, traditional grenadine is actually made from pomegranate juice. The name "grenadine" is derived from the French word "grenade," which means pomegranate. However, over time, many commercial grenadine products have deviated from the original recipe and are now made with artificial flavors and colors, resulting in a cherry-like taste and appearance.

Does Grenadine Go Bad?

In the same way that alcohol can expire, grenadine does have a shelf life and can go bad over time. Typically, homemade grenadine can last for up to a month when stored properly in the refrigerator. Store-bought grenadine typically ranges from 6 to 12 months, depending on the brand and storage conditions. Once opened, it is important to store grenadine in the refrigerator to extend its shelf life. If there are any signs of spoilage, such as changes in color, taste, or the presence of mold, it is best to discard the grenadine to avoid any potential health risks. You can extend grenadine’s shelf life by adding vodka to the syrup to slow down the degeneration.


Grenadine syrup is a versatile and essential ingredient in the commercial food and beverage industry. Its ability to enhance the flavor, appearance, and overall experience of various drinks and desserts makes it a popular choice among bartenders, mixologists, and foodservice professionals. Whether you are looking to create signature cocktails or elevate the taste of your non-alcoholic beverages, grenadine syrup is a must-have ingredient in any commercial kitchen or bar.

Posted in: Bars & Breweries|Recipes|By Janine Jones
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