Collins Cherry Syrup 1L

Collins Cherry Syrup 1L is a non-alcoholic cocktail syrup made with real cherry juice and cane sugar in a 1-liter bottle at 0% ABV. Reformulated with cherry juice sourced directly from Oregon growers, this mixer distinguishes itself from artificial alternatives by relying on real fruit and simple ingredients rather than synthetic flavoring or high-fructose corn syrup.

Quick Facts: ABV: 0% (Non-Alcoholic)  |  Origin: USA  |  Style: Cherry Cocktail Syrup  |  Brand: Collins (Est. 1934, Chicago)

Production & Heritage

Collins launched in Chicago in 1934 with a single bottle of grenadine and a beer key, eventually expanding into a full line of cocktail mixers and syrups developed alongside working bartenders. The cherry syrup is made with water, real sugar, cherry juice concentrate, citric acid, natural flavor, and purple carrot extract for color — preserved with potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate, and sodium metabisulfite. The company sources its cherries directly from growers in Oregon, prioritizing real juice over artificial concentrates, which sets this syrup apart from many mass-market competitors that rely on synthetic cherry flavoring and artificial sweeteners.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Bright, ripe cherry with a subtle tartness underneath. A faint sweetness emerges, reminiscent of fresh cherry preserves.

Taste: The entry is immediately sweet, followed by a pronounced sweet-tart cherry character at mid-palate. Real sugar provides a clean sweetness that doesn't cloy, while the cherry juice concentrate delivers genuine fruit depth rather than candy-like artificiality.

Finish: A lingering tartness balances the initial sweetness, keeping the flavor lively. The overall impression is clean, with no chemical or syrupy aftertaste.

How to Drink Collins Cherry Syrup

This syrup works as a direct pour into cocktails, sodas, and mocktails — no dilution needed. Use it in a Cherry Sour in place of simple syrup, where its natural tartness amplifies the citrus backbone. It serves as an excellent grenadine substitute in a Shirley Temple or Roy Rogers, delivering real cherry flavor where grenadine often leans pomegranate. Try it in a Cherry Old Fashioned with bourbon or rye, where the genuine fruit character pairs naturally with barrel-aged whiskey without overwhelming the base spirit.

Best For

• Home bartenders building a cocktail syrup collection with real-ingredient mixers
• Hosting brunch or parties where batch cocktails and mocktails are on the menu
• Replacing grenadine with a more authentic cherry-forward alternative
• Making non-alcoholic drinks for guests who prefer genuine fruit flavor over artificial sweeteners

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Collins Cherry Syrup taste like? Collins Cherry Syrup delivers a sweet-tart cherry flavor driven by real Oregon cherry juice and cane sugar, tasting distinctly of ripe fruit rather than artificial candy.

How does Collins Cherry Syrup compare to grenadine? Grenadine is traditionally pomegranate-based, while Collins Cherry Syrup is made from cherry juice concentrate, giving it a distinctly different fruit profile. Collins Cherry Syrup can substitute for grenadine in most cocktails but will deliver a more pronounced cherry character.

Is Collins Cherry Syrup good for cocktails? Yes — it was formulated in collaboration with professional bartenders and works in any recipe calling for cherry syrup, cherry liqueur substitutes (in non-alcoholic applications), or as a grenadine alternative.

Where is Collins Cherry Syrup made? Collins Cherry Syrup is made in the United States by Collins, a company founded in Chicago in 1934. The cherries used in the syrup are sourced directly from growers in Oregon.

What foods pair well with Collins Cherry Syrup? Drizzle it over vanilla ice cream or cheesecake for a tart-sweet topping. It complements pancakes and waffles as a fruit-forward alternative to maple syrup. It also works well stirred into sparkling water alongside charcuterie boards, where its acidity cuts through rich, fatty meats and aged cheeses.

What sizes does Collins Cherry Syrup come in? Collins Cherry Syrup is commonly available in a 1-liter (1L) bottle, which is the standard bar-size format for their syrup line.

Is Collins Cherry Syrup worth the price? Collins Cherry Syrup positions as a mid-range cocktail syrup that justifies its price through real cherry juice and cane sugar — ingredients absent from many cheaper alternatives that rely on artificial flavoring and corn syrup.

Why Collins Cherry Syrup?

The clearest differentiator here is ingredient integrity: Collins sources cherries directly from Oregon growers and uses real sugar, a combination uncommon at this price tier in the cocktail syrup market. Founded in 1934, Collins has nearly nine decades in the mixer business, and the cherry syrup reflects that experience — it was developed with input from professional bartenders rather than designed purely for shelf appeal. For anyone looking to move beyond artificial grenadine or synthetic cherry syrups, the 1L format provides genuine fruit flavor at a practical volume for regular home or professional use.