Stirrings Grenadine Mix 12OZ

Stirrings Grenadine Mix 12OZ is a non-alcoholic, pomegranate-based grenadine syrup in a 12-ounce bottle, made with real pomegranate juice and pure cane sugar. It earned an 86-point Silver Medal and "Highly Recommended" rating from Tastings.com in 2018, distinguishing it as one of the more critically recognized grenadine options on the market.

Quick Facts: ABV: 0% (Non-Alcoholic)  |  Origin: USA  |  Style: Premium Cocktail Syrup  |  Brand: Stirrings

Production & Ingredients

Stirrings builds this grenadine around pomegranate juice from concentrate, sweetened with pure cane sugar rather than the high fructose corn syrup found in most mass-market grenadines. The remaining ingredient list is short and deliberate: water, citric acid for balanced acidity, natural pomegranate flavor, and fruit and vegetable juice for color. Notably, the formula omits Red #40 and other artificial dyes entirely, resulting in a natural brick-red hue that looks distinctly different from the neon-red syrups that have dominated bar rails for decades. The consistency is thinner than traditional syrup-heavy grenadines, which allows it to integrate more smoothly into cocktails and carbonated drinks.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Ripe pomegranate leads, followed by subtle hints of tart berry and a clean sweetness. There is no artificial candy-like quality on the nose.

Taste: The entry is bright with genuine pomegranate fruit character, moving into a mid-palate where cane sugar sweetness and citric tartness achieve a deliberate balance. It avoids the cloying, one-dimensional sugariness that defines most commercial grenadines.

Finish: Clean and moderately tart, with lingering pomegranate that fades without leaving a sticky or syrupy residue. The natural fruit flavor carries through to the end without turning bitter.

How to Use Stirrings Grenadine

Stirrings Grenadine works well anywhere a recipe calls for grenadine, but its balanced sweetness-to-tartness ratio means it performs especially well in drinks where grenadine plays a prominent role rather than acting as a background sweetener. A Shirley Temple made with this grenadine and ginger ale highlights the pomegranate-ginger interplay without excessive sugar. In a classic Tequila Sunrise, the natural brick-red color creates an authentic gradient while adding real fruit depth to the orange juice and tequila. A Jack Rose cocktail benefits from the tartness here, as it complements the applejack base and lime juice without overwhelming the drink's delicate balance.

Best For

• Home bartenders upgrading from mass-market grenadine brands
• Mixing non-alcoholic drinks and mocktails with real fruit flavor
• Stocking a small home bar with quality cocktail essentials
• Anyone avoiding artificial colors and high fructose corn syrup in their mixers

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Stirrings Grenadine taste like? It delivers a genuine pomegranate flavor that balances sweetness and tartness without tasting artificially candy-like. The cane sugar provides clean sweetness, while citric acid keeps the profile vibrant and fruit-forward.

How does Stirrings Grenadine compare to Rose's Grenadine? Rose's Grenadine is commonly described as having a thick, sickly-sweet, cherry-syrup-like character, while Stirrings uses actual pomegranate juice and has a thinner, more natural consistency. Stirrings also avoids high fructose corn syrup and artificial red dyes like Red #40, which Rose's contains.

Is Stirrings Grenadine good for cocktails? Yes — its thinner viscosity and balanced tartness make it mix more smoothly into cocktails than heavier, corn-syrup-based grenadines. It works particularly well in drinks where grenadine is a primary flavor component rather than just a sweetener.

Where is Stirrings Grenadine made? Stirrings Grenadine is produced in the United States. The brand focuses on premium, natural-ingredient cocktail mixers designed for home and professional use.

What foods pair well with Stirrings Grenadine? Drizzle it over vanilla ice cream or panna cotta for a tart-sweet pomegranate topping. It complements Middle Eastern dishes like fattoush salad as a light dressing ingredient. Use it in sparkling water alongside fresh citrus for a non-alcoholic refreshment, or add it to yogurt parfaits where its tartness offsets creamy textures.

What sizes does Stirrings Grenadine come in? The standard size is 12 ounces (355 ml), which is designed for home bar use and yields enough for roughly 12–16 cocktails depending on recipe proportions.

Is Stirrings Grenadine worth the price? Stirrings positions itself as a premium alternative to mass-market grenadines, and the use of real pomegranate juice, cane sugar, and no artificial colors justifies its step up from budget-tier brands. For anyone who uses grenadine regularly, the flavor difference over cheaper alternatives is immediately apparent.

Why Stirrings Grenadine?

Grenadine has long been one of the most misunderstood bar ingredients — the word itself derives from the French word for pomegranate, yet most commercial versions contain no pomegranate at all. Stirrings corrects that with a formula built on actual pomegranate juice and cane sugar, earning an 86-point Silver Medal from Tastings.com in 2018. The absence of artificial dyes and high fructose corn syrup places it in a small category of grenadines that deliver what the ingredient was originally meant to be. For anyone serious about the quality of their home cocktails or mocktails, this is a straightforward upgrade that makes a measurable difference in the glass.