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The Jab's grenadine taste-off |
djmont
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 03, 2011
Posts: 374
From: Potomac Falls, VA
|  Posted: 2013-08-19 10:24 am Permalink
I hate to be a contrarian -- actually, I don't  -- but if one is looking for authenticity in their recipes, using a true pomegranate syrup as grenadine won't give it to you. Grenadine has been nothing more than dyed sugar water since before Prohibition. Makes me think it's unlikely that Don or Vic were using otherwise.
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David J. Montgomery
Professor Cocktail
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Sunny&Rummy
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jun 13, 2013
Posts: 545
From: Melbourne, FL
| Posted: 2013-08-19 11:32 am Permalink
Here's a good example of where I'll choose good over authentic.
(And when I make Prohibition-era cocktails I stick with London Dry or Old Tom instead of trying to mix up some homemade Jake-Leg gin. Sometimes authentic isn't all it's cracked up to be. )
[ This Message was edited by: Sunny&Rummy 2013-08-19 11:42 ]
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djmont
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 03, 2011
Posts: 374
From: Potomac Falls, VA
| Posted: 2013-08-19 1:11 pm Permalink
delete
[ This Message was edited by: djmont 2014-03-20 09:07 ]
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AdOrAdam
Grand Member (first year) 
Joined: Jun 16, 2013
Posts: 492
From: Wolverhampton, UK
| Posted: 2013-08-19 1:45 pm Permalink
I have 'Old English Grenadine Alcoholic Cordial' & Monin. I also have Bols (unused).
Monin is a bit like strawberry jam. I rate the 'Old English Grenadine Alcoholic Cordial', Im near the bottom, its taken a while about 9 months to drink 70cl!
I intend to make a small batch of hibiscus grenadine per this recipe to compare ( http://www.amountainofcrushedice.com/?p=16699 ), hibiscus seems a little more 'tiki'
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Dry January is over, long live wet February!
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TropicDrinkBoy
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Feb 27, 2011
Posts: 277 | Posted: 2013-08-20 8:56 pm Permalink
I've had Monin, Sonoma Syrup Classic Grenadine, Sonoma Syrup Pomegranate Grenadine Simple Syrup, Small Hand Foods Grenadine, "Mid East Pomegranate Molasses", Stirrings, Trader Vic's and Roses grenadines. For my money Small Hand Foods Grenadine is easily the best. Luckily I can sometimes find it at the Cask Store in San Francisco when I'm on my way to Smuggler's Cove.
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Kill Devil
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Feb 16, 2011
Posts: 281
From: Chicago
| Posted: 2013-08-21 07:52 am Permalink
I often use Finest Call Pomegranate Syrup, which I think is about 11% of the stuff.
By the way, I think an excellent vehicle to test your grenadine is in a Jack Rose; esp with the Laird's Straight Apple Brandy (100 proof)---if it can stand up to that, it's working.
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Dapuma1
Tiki Socialite
Joined: May 04, 2010
Posts: 113 | Posted: 2013-08-24 3:17 pm Permalink
Quote:
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On 2013-08-20 20:56, TropicDrinkBoy wrote:
I've had Monin, Sonoma Syrup Classic Grenadine, Sonoma Syrup Pomegranate Grenadine Simple Syrup, Small Hand Foods Grenadine, "Mid East Pomegranate Molasses", Stirrings, Trader Vic's and Roses grenadines. For my money Small Hand Foods Grenadine is easily the best. Luckily I can sometimes find it at the Cask Store in San Francisco when I'm on my way to Smuggler's Cove.
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+1 Small Hand Foods is awesome (for everything - try their Pineapple Gum syrup in a pina colada - turns pineapple/coconut haters into your new best friend)
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Sunny&Rummy
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jun 13, 2013
Posts: 545
From: Melbourne, FL
| Posted: 2013-08-25 06:16 am Permalink
I have heard the Small Hands pineapple gomme makes a killer Pisco Punch. I finally found some gum arabic and ha e been meaning to make some pineapple gomme syrup but haven't gotten to it yet.
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Robert Louis Stevenson
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thePorpoise
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jan 23, 2011
Posts: 1294
From: Tampa Bay
| Posted: 2014-02-06 05:08 am Permalink
here's another lazy man's grenadine i'm trying out:
bought a bottle of Monin pomegranite syrup, added a teaspoon of orange flower water, shook it up. not bad, still a bit tart though. but better than the corn-syrupy 'grenadines' available in stores around here...
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Oxybeles
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Sep 23, 2013
Posts: 45
From: RSM, CA
| Posted: 2014-02-06 07:16 am Permalink
For simplicity sake...
1/2 Monin Pomegranate Syrup + 1/2 Monin Grenadine Syrup = Go to....
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“All roads lead to rum.” ~ W.C. Fields
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Destro100
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jun 28, 2012
Posts: 134 | Posted: 2014-02-06 07:31 am Permalink
I'd like to add another suggestion.
I really like Routin 1883 syrups.
I use their:
Pomegranate
Orgeat
and Lavender
They use really good ingredients, are affordable, and work very well in cocktails.
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thePorpoise
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jan 23, 2011
Posts: 1294
From: Tampa Bay
| Posted: 2014-02-06 1:28 pm Permalink
Oxy, if I ever stumble across the Monin grenadine i will give that a whirl (after trying the grenadine itself first).
Destro- have never seen that brand before. checked their website, says their grenadine is a blend of berries and vanilla...
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Destro100
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jun 28, 2012
Posts: 134 | Posted: 2014-02-07 07:46 am Permalink
Hey Porpoise and all,
I'm not sure where you got that description for Routin Grenadine. Maybe there are a few slightly different products. I've attached some pictures of the actual pomegranate syrup.
Check out the ingredients: Cane sugar (no high fructose), water, and pomegranate juice are the first three. Then elderberry (actually listed as 10%).
In addition, check out how their orgeat did in a little face-off - http://professorcocktail.com/ingredients/taste-test-orgeat-almond-syrup/
I hope that clears things up.
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TorchGuy
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 24, 2008
Posts: 209
From: Renton, WA
| Posted: 2014-02-20 12:26 am Permalink
I make my own grenadine out of store-bought Pom Wonderful, which has no ingredients besides juice concentrate. I put it in a pot, add an equal amount of sugar, stir over medium heat until dissolved, and bottle. Works great. No figuring out which commercial brand is better-tasting and no messy seeding of pomegranates. I'd love to taste some made from a fresh pomegranate, though.
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Wichita Lime Man
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Apr 25, 2012
Posts: 14
From: the exotic shores of Kansas
| Posted: 2014-02-22 10:43 am Permalink
TorchGuy, I'll do the same during those months when fresh pomegranates aren't available. For each 8oz. Pom (or fresh-squeezed juice) I add 1 oz. pomegranate molasses and 1/4 tsp. orange blossom water which, I think, makes for a richer grenadine. I use Cortas brand for both ingredients.
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