Everyone knows that in order to build a bar, you cannot have just the alcohol alone. Condiments and mixers are the essential in a bar setting, typically for the person who doesn't want the taste or the higher alcohol content of a 100% spirit drink.

Now, condiments that a person might think of primarily would run along the lines of sugar, Margarita Salt, and cream or milk. However, it is my opinion that in order to run a successful bar, professionally or at home, you MUST have a certain something at all times. Ladies and gentlemen, this certain something is called Grenadine.



Grenadine is a somewhat cherry-flavored sryup that's made from red currants and pomegranates can be used in countless ways. Just a splash can completely change the flavor/color of a drink. This makes Grenadine an incredible tool in fading the taste of vodka or rum. It can also add a sweet taste to the drink, turning a way-too-sour ensemble into a well-rounded beverage. Grenadine is the star player in the sunrises, where the high density of the syrup makes it sink to the bottom, making it look like a sunrise with the orange juice on the top.

Here are some great recipies with Grenadine, just so you can experience the amazing capabilities of Grenadine. However, I must warn you; if you get Grenadine once, you'll never be able to go without it again!:

Tequila Sunrise
1-2 oz Tequila
Orange Juice
Splash of grenadine

Add tequila and orange juice together and mix with ice in a shaker. Filter into highball glass and splash with grenadine. Garnish with orange slice and serve.


Floradora Cooler
2 oz Gin
2 oz Club Soda (Ginger Ale can be substituted)
1 tbsp. grenadine
1/2 tbsp. powdered sugar
Juice of 1 lime

Stir juice of 1 lime with club soda, grenadine, and powdered sugar in collins glass. Add ice and gin. Fill again with club soda and stir. Garnish with lime wedge and serve.


Harvard Cocktail
1 1/2 oz Brandy
3/4 oz Sweet Vermouth
2 tsps. Lemon juice
1 dash bitters
1 tsp. grenadine

Shake all ingredients together with ice in a shaker. Strain into cocktail glass and serve.


Jamaican Crawler
1 oz light rum
1 oz melon liqueur
3 oz pineapple juice
1 splash grenadine

Add rum, liqueur, and pineapple juice together in shaker. Shake with ice. Pour into collins glass, and splash grenadine carefully on top, letting it float. Garnish with pineapple wedge and serve.


Pink Pussy Cat
1 1/2 oz Vodka
Pineapple Juice (Grapefruit juice can be substituted)
1 dash grenadine

Add vodka and pineapple juice together in shaker. Shake with ice and filter into highball glass. Add grenadine and stir.


Whiskey Squirt
1 1/2 oz Blended Whiskey
1 tbsp. Powdered Sugar
1 tbsp. grenadine
Club soda

Shake ingredients together in a shaker with ice. Strain into highball. Fill with club soda and garnish with pineapple and strawberry cubes. Serve.


Melon Cooler
1 oz melon liqueur
1/2 oz peach schnapps
1/2 oz rasberry schnapps
2 oz pineapple juice

Shake all ingredients together in shaker with ice. Strain into cocktail or margarita glass. Garnish with cherry and a lime wheel and serve.


Frozen Fuzzy
1 oz peach schnapps
1/2 oz triple sec
1/2 oz lime juice
1/2 oz grenadine
1 splash lemon-lime soda

Combine all ingredients in blender. Fill with ice up to liquid-level and blend. Pour into champagne flute and garnish with a lime wedge. Serve.


Country Club Cooler (low-alcohol drink)
2 oz Dry Vermouth
2 oz Club soda (ginger ale can be substituted)
1/2 tsp. grenadine

Add grenadine and club soda in collins glass. Stir mixture Add ice and dry vermouth. Fill with club soda or ginger ale and stir again. Garnish with an orange spiral or peel and dangle end over rim of glass.


Sunshine Splash (non-alcoholic)
3 oz pineapple juice
3 oz orange juice
1 oz sour mix
1/2 oz grenadine
2 oz lemon-lime soda

Add ingredients over ice in parfait glass. Garnish with a pineapple slice and serve.


For more information on grenadine and grenadine-related drinks, please visit these websites:

Drinksmixer.com - grenadine
Drinksmixer.com - Rose's Grenadine

Special thanks to Mr. Boston for providing these recipies!