Syrups help transform basic ingredients into sophisticated, well-rounded drinks, earning them a spot in every bartender's arsenal. They bring sweetness and can help offset the bitterness of spirits or the acidity of citrus, while also introducing unique flavors to elevate a cocktail's profile. Compared to cocktail mixers, which are ready-to-use liquid bases, cocktail syrups are sweeter, more concentrated, and much more versatile in application. Beyond cocktails, syrups can be used in coffees, lemonades, smoothies, and Italian sodas. Whether you prefer to craft your own or opt for pre-made options, we've curated a list of the top 10 cocktail syrups every bar should have on hand to elevate your drink-making and inspire endless flavorful creations.
Shop All Drink Flavoring Syrups1. Simple Syrup
Simple syrup is a fundamental bar ingredient to stock in your speed rail, acting as a workhorse in both classic and trending cocktails. Made from equal parts sugar and water, it is a staple in mules, margaritas, mojitos, and other frequently ordered drinks. Its versatility makes it ideal for balancing the flavors in alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and it can be easily adjusted to suit different sweetness levels or infused with flavors like mint or vanilla.
Simple syrup quickly dissolves into cocktails, ensuring consistent sweetness without the graininess of granulated sugar. It has a long shelf life when stored properly, and because it’s a liquid, it blends seamlessly into both hot and cold beverages. It is a time-saver for bartenders, allowing them to mix drinks efficiently, especially during busy hours. Whether used in a cocktail or to sweeten coffee, simple syrup ensures a consistent, hassle-free solution for achieving the perfect level of sweetness every time.
Simple syrup tasting notes: Sweet, clean, neutral
Here are some popular drinks you can create with simple syrup:
- Classic Mojito
- Gin Fizz
- French 75
2. Grenadine Syrup
Grenadine is a non-alcoholic syrup that adds a burst of sweetness and a vibrant red color to your drinks, making it a key player in many tropical cocktails. Combining pomegranate juice, sugar, and sometimes lemon juice, grenadine has a sweet, subtle fruity flavor with hints of tartness. It's quite easy to whip up yourself — use our recipe to make your own grenadine syrup free of corn syrup and artificial ingredients.
Grenadine syrup is mostly paired with light spirits like rum, tequila, vodka, and gin. Whether you're mixing up an easy-sipping beachy drink or a cult-classic mocktail, grenadine syrup is a must-have ingredient to keep stocked behind the bar.
Grenadine syrup tasting notes: Sweet, fruity, tangy
Here are some popular drinks you can create with grenadine syrup:
- Tequila Sunrise
- Shirley Temple/Dirty Shirley
- Hurricane
3. Orgeat Syrup
Pronounced or-zsha, orgeat syrup is essential for crafting iconic tropical drinks like the Mai Tai, Scorpion, and several other tiki cocktails. The almond-based syrup is often made with orange flower or rose water, delivering a rich, nutty sweetness with a hint of floral aroma. Beyond tiki drinks, orgeat syrup can be used to reimagine classic cocktails like the espresso martini or a rum Old Fashioned.
Orgeat syrup’s versatility extends to both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, and it can even be incorporated into coffee, frappes, and smoothies. With its ability to balance sweetness and depth of flavor, orgeat syrup is a must-have for bars aiming to offer a wide variety of drinks, especially those focusing on exotic cocktails.
Orgeat syrup tasting notes: Nutty, floral, sweet
Here are some popular drinks you can create with orgeat syrup:
- Mai Tai
- Scorpion
- Army & Navy
4. Agave Syrup
Agave syrup is a versatile sweetener and is particularly suited for cocktails that highlight tequila or mezcal, such as margaritas and palomas. It is an excellent alternative to simple syrup or honey, offering a flavor profile that varies from mild and neutral to rich and caramel-like, with the intensity deepening as the syrup darkens. Agave syrup is also vegan-friendly, which makes it a key ingredient for bars looking to cater to dietary preferences or restrictions.
In addition to cocktails, agave syrup is a great option for sweetening iced teas, aguas frescas, lemonades, and coffee. It dissolves easily in cold liquids and can be used to create custom sweetness levels without overpowering the flavor of the drink. Its versatility and ability to pair well with various spirits and mixers make agave syrup an essential item for any bar that wants to offer diverse sweetener options.
Agave syrup tasting notes: Caramel, sweet, vegetal
Here are some popular drinks you can create with agave syrup:
- Classic Margarita
- Mezcal Margarita
- Mezcal Paloma
5. Honey Syrup
While honey syrup’s taste can vary depending on the type of honey used, it generally brings a deeper, more complex sweetness than traditional simple syrup. The natural flavor of honey adds a layer of complexity and warmth, which can complement and enhance a wide range of spirits, from bourbon, rye, and whiskey to spiced rum, gin, and tequila.
Whether you’re mixing a classic Bee’s Knees or experimenting with a new cocktail creation, honey syrup is a worthwhile addition to stocking behind the bar. Honey syrup enhances cocktails by adding a rich, nuanced sweetness that sugar alone can’t provide. Sometimes referred to as "liquid honey", it is just as easy to make as simple syrup and can serve as a substitute in various cocktails that traditionally use simple syrup for a subtle flavor enhancement. Try this version of the classic Tom Collins, using honey syrup to complement the vibrant citrus notes, or use it in an Old Fashioned to bring out the bold flavors of the whiskey.
Honey syrup tasting notes: Sweet, floral, earthy
- Gold Rush
- Bee’s Knees
- Hot Toddy
6. Strawberry Syrup
Strawberry syrup brings the sweet, juicy essence of fresh strawberries into cocktails, offering a vibrant, slightly tangy flavor profile with rich, fruity notes. It adds a bright, summery touch to cocktails, and it pairs particularly well with light spirits like vodka, tequila, and rum. It can also complement bourbon and whiskey when looking to add a fruity, seasonal twist.
Strawberry syrup is essential for classic or frozen daiquiris, margaritas, and martinis. Try using it in place of simple syrup for mojitos or a Gin Fizz to complement their botanical flavors. Strawberry syrup is also excellent in non-alcoholic beverages like iced teas, lemonades, or matcha lattes.
Strawberry syrup tasting notes: Sweet, fruity, tangy
- Strawberry Daiquiri
- Strawberry Margarita
- Strawberry Martini
7. Mint Syrup
Every bar, no matter its style or size, can benefit from having mint syrup on hand. While fresh mint is an essential ingredient in classic cocktails like the mojito and mint julep, not every bar has the luxury of time or the space to muddle fresh mint leaves for each drink order. In busy environments, especially during peak hours, speed is key, and muddling fresh mint can be both time-consuming and inconsistent, resulting in varying flavors from one drink to the next. Mint syrup provides a fast, efficient alternative that captures the fresh, aromatic essence of mint, allowing bartenders to serve cocktails with that signature mint flavor in record time, without sacrificing quality.
Whether you're crafting a mojito on a hot summer day or mixing a classic mint julep for a Kentucky Derby party, mint syrup is a game-changer for any bar looking to balance quality with speed. Its refreshing, aromatic flavor pairs well with rum, bourbon, and gin. You can also use it to craft aguas frescas, lemonades, and shakes.
Mint syrup tasting notes: Sweet, minty, aromatic
Here are some popular drinks you can create with mint syrup:
- Mojito
- Mint Julep
- South Side
8. Cherry Syrup
Cherry syrup has a rich, sweet, and slightly tart flavor profile that captures the essence of ripe cherries. The syrup offers a deep, red fruit flavor with a balance of sweetness and tartness, making it a perfect complement to a variety of spirits. It pairs beautifully with darker spirits like bourbon and rye and is also great with rum, brandy, and even gin, where the syrup can provide a more robust fruitiness to lighter botanical flavors.
Cherry syrup is an ideal ingredient for sour drinks, adding a fruity depth that complements the acidity and sharpness typical of sour cocktails. Its rich, sweet-tart flavor profile enhances the natural brightness of citrus while rounding out its taste, creating a more balanced and multi-dimensional drink. It also offers an easy way to put a new spin on timeless cocktails like the Old Fashioned or Manhattan. It also shines in non-alcoholic drinks like cherry limeades, sodas, and mocktails.
Cherry syrup tasting notes: Tart, sweet, fruity
- Cherry Bounce
- Cherry Bourbon Sour
- Cherry Smash
9. Coconut Syrup
Coconut syrup is a versatile and delicious addition to any bar’s flavoring ingredients, offering a rich, creamy sweetness with a tropical flair. Use in place of simple syrup to boost the exotic flavor in tiki drinks or in place of coconut milk or coconut cream to reduce its heaviness. It’s not just for tiki drinks — coconut syrup can bring a tropical twist to a range of cocktails, such as mojitos and daiquiris. The syrup’s smooth, slightly nutty profile pairs well with rum, tequila, whiskey, gin, and vodka, making it an easy-to-use ingredient in many popular cocktails.
By adding coconut syrup to a bar’s offerings, bartenders can unlock a new realm of flavor possibilities, from vibrant tropical drinks to inventive twists on classic cocktails. Coconut syrup can also be used in non-alcoholic beverages, such as lemonades, iced teas, smoothies, and mochas, making it a must-have for bars catering to alcohol drinkers and non-drinkers alike.
Coconut syrup tasting notes: Tropical, sweet, mildly nutty
Here are some popular drinks you can create with coconut syrup:
- Coconut Mojito
- Spiked Coconut Limeade
- Coconut Daiquiri
10. Raspberry Syrup
Raspberry syrup provides a perfect balance of fruitiness and tartness, making it a great way to add brightness to cocktails. It pairs well with light spirits like gin, vodka, rum, and champagne, as well as darker spirits like bourbon and whiskey, where the raspberry’s tartness adds a refreshing contrast to the richness of the spirit.
Raspberry syrup is essential for crafting classic cocktails like the Clover Cocktail and Knickerbocker. It can also be used to craft raspberry bellinis, spritzers, margaritas, and mojitos. Beyond cocktails, raspberry syrup is perfect for crafting refreshing mocktails like raspberry lemonades, iced teas, and smoothies.
Raspberry syrup tasting notes: Tart, sweet, fruity
Here are some popular drinks you can create with raspberry syrup:
- Clover Cocktail
- Knickerbocker
- Raspberry Margarita
Best Cocktail Syrup Brands
Whether you're a high-volume bar or a small cocktail lounge, it's crucial to have reliable and consistent syrups that can stand up to bold liquors while looking good behind the bar. Pre-made cocktail syrups are the ultimate time-saver, and many of the brands out there carry a range of flavors to make an endless number of drinks. We've listed 5 of the most popular cocktail syrup brands below that provide exceptional performance in fast-paced settings.
1. Finest Call
Finest Call offers an extensive line of high-quality cocktail syrups and mixers that are favored by busy bars. With convenient features like an easy pour top and a closure cap to minimize spills, as well as a long bottle neck and pourer for precise pouring, these products ensure a flawless pour with every use. Whether crafting traditional favorites or trying out innovative recipes, Finest Call guarantees a dependable and uniform flavor profile.
- Sizes Available: 1 liter and 1 gallon bottles
- Sugar-Free/Unsweetened Flavors: No
See what our customers are saying about Finest Call cocktail syrups!
2. Monin
Monin is one of the most well-known and respected names in syrups, offering a huge selection of flavors that can elevate cocktails, coffees, and a variety of other beverages. The syrups are beloved for their premium ingredients and authentic taste profiles. Out of all of the brands listed, Monin has the most diverse range of flavors, allowing you to get as ambitious as you want in your cocktail-making. They also offer sugar-free options to expand your drink menu and appeal to a broader customer base.
- Sizes Available: 375 mL, 750 mL, and 1 liter bottles
- Sugar-Free/Unsweetened Flavors: Yes
See what our customers are saying about Monin cocktail syrups!
3. Rose’s
Rose’s is a trusted and reliable brand in the world of cocktail syrups, known for its extensive product line that caters to both classic and modern cocktail needs. With a rich history dating back to the 19th century, Rose's has built a reputation for quality ingredients and consistent flavor. Their syrups, ranging from grenadine and triple sec syrup to fruit flavors like blueberry and peach, offer bartenders versatility when crafting cocktails.
- Sizes Available: 12 fl. oz. and 1 liter bottles
- Sugar-Free/Unsweetened Flavors: No
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4. Master of Mixes
Master of Mixes is a dependable brand for bar owners seeking consistent quality and efficiency in cocktail syrups. Known for their premium ingredients and expertly crafted formulas, Master of Mixes offers a wide variety of syrups and cocktail mixers that simplify cocktail creation without compromising on taste. The brand's focus on high-quality, natural flavors makes it a trusted choice for busy bars that need to deliver top-notch drinks quickly and reliably.
- Sizes Available: 375 mL bottles
- Sugar-Free/Unsweetened Flavors: No
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5. Capora
Capora offers high-quality flavoring syrups comparable to well-known national brands at a fraction of the price. Their premium selection of syrups appeals to every taste, from classic pure cane syrup to innovative flavors like cucumber mint and orange blossom vanilla, to craft one-of-a-kind cocktails without breaking your budget. Beyond syrups, Capora also produces rich flavoring sauces and creamy smoothie mixes, allowing you to create a diverse range of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages for your menu.
- Sizes Available: 750 mL bottles
- Sugar-Free/Unsweetened Flavors: No
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Syrups such as simple syrup, grenadine, and more specialized varieties like orgeat or honey syrup give bartenders precise control over sweetness and flavor intensity, elevating the overall drinking experience. Beyond just adding sweetness, syrups introduce a rich array of flavors — from fruity and herbal to nutty and exotic — allowing bartenders to experiment and refine the complexity of their cocktails. Whether you’re crafting a classic or pushing creative boundaries, the right syrups can transform a drink. If you’re in the process of opening a bar and looking to stock essential ingredients, this list of the most popular bar syrup flavors is the perfect starting point to build a versatile and dynamic cocktail menu.
