When you’re making cocktails, add a little burst of fun flavor by making your own juices, simple syrups, mixers, and garnishes! Here’s an easy one to start with – grenadine!
As quarantine stretches on, I’ve done a bit of work restocking our bar supplies. No, not because we’re going through alcohol faster, but because I got out of the habit of drinking much other than wine when we were home. And if you’re not drinking anything but wine, there’s not much point in keeping mixers, syrups, juices, and garnishes around.
But now that we’re not heading out to restaurants and Scott and I aren’t able to indulge in the occasional cocktail, we’ve learned to enjoy mixing our own again. And that has required us to stock up on bar items.
And a lot of those are easier – and more practical – to make than to buy. Plus, you get the added knowledge of what flavors actually go into your mixers and add-ins, and I think that gives you a better idea of how to pair them.
Take grenadine syrup, for example.
A lot of people think grenadine syrup is some kind of cherry flavoring. Despite it’s marachino color, it’s made from pomegranates, and adds a wonderful mixture of sweet and tart to your beverage.
Here are some of the most popular drinks out there that use grenadine:
- Tequila Sunrise
- Malibu Sunset
- Shirley Temple
- Tropical Bay Breeze
- Whiskey Sour
Oh, and my Mai Tai Punch!
Lots of versatility – and lots of flavor if you make it from scratch. Which is really easy if you also happen, like us, to buy pomegranate juice.
On top of that, depending on where you get your grenadine, by making your own, you can avoid high fructose corn syrup, additional flavorings, dyes, and a lot of other stuff that you just might not want to put into your drink.
[lt_recipe name=”Homemade Grenadine” summary=”When you’re making cocktails, add a little burst of fun flavor by making your own juices, simple syrups, and garnishes! Here’s an easy one to start with – grenadine!” servings=”1 cup” total_time=”15″ print=”yes” image=”https://homefrontcooking.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Homemade-Grenadine-0698.jpg” ingredients=”1 cup pomegranate juice;1 cup sugar;1 dash orange juice” ]Set a saucepan over medium heat, combine the pomegranate juice and the sugar.;Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly, and continue cooking until all the sugar has dissolved (2-3 minutes).;Reduce the heat and let simmer for another 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, letting the mixture reduce to a syrup.;Remove from heat and let cool. Add a dash of orange juice, and then pour into a storage container.;Use in your favorite drink recipes![/lt_recipe]
For a slightly different take, skip the orange juice and just add orange peels to the pomegranate and sugar mixture while it’s cooking.
Did you make this recipe? Tag @homefrontcooking or use #homefrontrecipes on Instagram!
Because this mixture has no preservatives, it’s good for about three weeks. I’ve heard you can add a splash of vodka to extend its life, but I haven’t tried it!
What are your favorite bar mixers to make at home?
