Syrups can be used as a sweetener for all sorts of beverages. They can be used in anything from coffee and homemade sodas to your favorite co*cktails or nonalcoholic mixed drinks. While once relegated to standards like chocolate and caramel for flavored lattes, syrups are now produced in a variety of creative flavors, many of which stretch the imagination and open up a new world of drinks to enjoy. At its most basic, syrup is nothing more than sugar and water. Simple syrup is a staple for bartenders and is (as the name implies) simple to make at home. You can even add flavor, though that’s typically limited to easy infusions like fruits, herbs, and spices. These commercial syrup brands offer convenience and innovative or hard-to-duplicate flavors. They allow you to add a squirt of toasted almond mocha flavor to your morning coffee or create a guava soda without hunting down the exotic fruit. Many companies offer sugar-free options, too. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Best Flavors: Best Artisanal: Best Dessert: Best for Coffee and Lattes: Best for co*cktails: Best for Homemade Soda: Best Sugar-Free: Jordan's Skinny Syrups Classic Syrup Sampler at Amazon ($40) In This Article Our Picks What to Look for FAQs Why Trust The Spruce Eats? What We Like Premium product Wide selection of flavors Very versatile What We Don't Like A bit expensive Amoretti has an amazing collection of premium syrups that are perfect for any drink. The brand's dark chocolate is wonderful in coffee drinks, the caramel syrups are great in apple co*cktails, and the fruit syrups make fabulous sodas. All of the syrups are designed to react well with other liquids, including milk, without curdling. The flavor line includes many of the favorites like Amaretto, French Vanilla, and Pomegranate (a grenadine substitute). Then there are the fun flavors like Violet-Lavender, Elderberry Blossom, and Zabaione (a delicious Italian custard) and seasonal favorites like Pumpkin and Apple Pie. Sugar-free sweeteners are also available. Amoretti's product line also includes nonalcoholic syrups designed to taste like certain liquors. This is a great way to transform a boozy drink into something more innocent. These flavors range from Tequila and Brandy to Wine Blossom, Irish Cream, and Blue Curaçao. Low/no-calorie options available: Yes | Size: 25.4 fluid ounces | Calories per serving: 35 What We Like Rich flavors Unique selections Includes spicy options What We Don't Like Higher calorie than some other options Monin is a popular brand of syrups that you’ll see quite often in coffee shops. It’s also a favorite for mixed drinks. The flavor line is immense, available all over, and always expanding. Some of the flavors are very fun, including Candy Corn, Cinnamon Bun, and Hickory Smoke. All of the Monin syrups have a rich, true flavor and are perfect for drink experimentation. You’ll find the usual fruit and candy flavors as well as tantalizing combinations like the South Seas Blend, which includes Mango, Guava, and Ginger. Monin also has a great selection of herbal syrups like Elderflower and Lemongrass. The brand's spicy syrups are the most impressive. The Chipotle-Pineapple makes a great mojito, and the Habanero-Lime adds a nice dimension to a habanero martini. Low/no-calorie options available: Yes | Size: 1 liter | Calories per serving: 90 (flavor-dependent, so may vary) What We Like Top quality Excellent in co*cktails Artisanal production methods What We Don't Like Fewer flavor options Just like any other drink ingredient, syrups are turning artisanal. While the smaller companies may not have the expansive flavor lineup, the quality of the syrups is top-notch. Sonoma Syrup Co. is a stand out in this arena. Produced in the wine country of Northern California, these handcrafted syrups are made with pure cane sugar, contain no artificial flavors or preservatives, and are GMO-free. They are ideal for creating high-end drinks. Sonoma's flavor list includes favorites like Hazelnut for coffee, two types of Mint for sweet tea, and a lovely Lavender that’s amazing in lemonade. The brand's specialty is Vanilla Bean syrup. You can get the full-flavored version, enjoy just a hint of vanilla in the No. 0 Classic syrup, or go all out with the award-winning Anniversary Formula. For classic co*cktail enthusiasts, Sonoma makes the coveted Orgeat Syrup, which is the key ingredient for an authentic mai tai. Low/no-calorie options available: No | Size: 12.7 fluid ounces | Calories per serving: 95 (flavor-dependent, so may vary) What We Like Easy to source Very deep selection of flavors Available in many coffee shops What We Don't Like May sometimes ship in plastic and not glass Torani is one of the best-known names in flavored syrups, and you can find these almost anywhere. The flavor list is so long and continually evolving, which makes it hard to keep up with it. With this brand, you’ll find all of the standard syrup flavors, from fruits to nuts, and a series of coffeehouse favorites. Where the real fun begins when you dive into the syrups designed to mimic sweet treats. From a sugar-free Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough syrup for milkshakes to a Tiramisu that is worthy of cold brew coffee, they’re yummy additions to a variety of drinks. The Gingerbread, Toasted Marshmallow, and Salted Caramel syrups add sweet pizzazz to hot cocoa, and the Cheesecake and Shortbread syrups are brilliant in coffee. If you’re looking to make an effortless pumpkin spice latte come fall, there’s a spiced syrup for that, too. Low/no-calorie options available: Yes | Size: 750 milliliters | Calories per serving: 80 (flavor-dependent, so may vary) What We Like No artificial ingredients Terrific in coffee Classic Seattle brand What We Don't Like Not as many flavors as some brands Caramel, English Toffee, and White Chocolate are among the favorites from DaVinci Gourmet Syrups. The company started in Seattle during the coffee shop boom in the late 80s, and it continues to produce excellent syrups that will enhance the flavor of well-brewed coffee. These syrups do not contain artificial ingredients and there are sugar-free options. For an outstanding vanilla latte, it’s hard to beat DaVinci’s French Vanilla. The Irish Cream will sweeten up any coffee perfectly without the booze or cream, while the Cinnamon Syrup offers the next best option to homemade. When you’re feeling adventurous, there's also Cake Batter, Ginger, and Red Velvet syrups to sweeten up your favorite espresso drink. Low/no-calorie options available: Yes | Size: 25.4 fluid ounces | Calories per serving: 80 (flavor-dependent, so may vary) What We Like Excellent in co*cktails Produced artisanally Includes several classic co*cktail syrups What We Don't Like Smaller selection of flavors Created by award-winning bartender Jennifer Colliau, these syrups fill the need for co*cktail enthusiasts looking for the finest and often hard-to-find syrups. The syrups contain no corn syrup or artificial colors; they are simple and classic. Small Hands Foods' product line is compact, though it includes the necessities for classic co*cktails, including Orgeat and Gum (or gomme) syrups and Real Grenadine made from pomegranate (not the cherry-dyed stuff you find in the average liquor store). The Gum Syrup does not stand alone, however: the brand also produces a Pineapple and a Raspberry gum, and both are great. There’s even a passionfruit syrup, which is an excellent alternative to the juice required for the original hurricane co*cktail. Low/no-calorie options available: No | Size: 8.5 fluid ounces | Calories per serving: 20 (flavor-dependent, so may vary) What We Like High quality Handsome packaging Creates a customizable tonic What We Don't Like Only a tonic syrup, not multiple flavors Any of the fruit-flavored syrups can be used for homemade sodas. Simply add soda water such asseltzer or club soda; a good ratio is one part syrup to four or five parts soda. A soda maker, like the Ninja Thirsti, will carbonate water and blend it with the syrup. Tonic syrup, however, offers a fun spin on co*cktail syrups: it allows the gin and tonic lover to customize their own G&T by adjusting the sweetness level of the tonic portion, rather than relying on a pre-batched tonic water. Made with cinchona bark, which contains quinine, tonic syrups can be dangerous to make at home. Buying it from a reputable company is necessary, and Jack Rudy co*cktail Co. serves up an excellent tonic syrup made from quinine, botanicals and real cane sugar for sweetness. Low/no-calorie options available: No | Size: 16 fluid ounces | Calories per serving: 35 What We Like Zero calories Zero sugar co*cktail- and coffee-friendly flavors What We Don't Like Limited selection of flavors Typically, syrups are made with sugar, so it seems odd to talk about sugar-free syrups, but they do exist. For a syrup company that avoids sugar, Jordan’s Skinny Mixes is an excellent choice. Jordan’s started out with co*cktail mixers and has developed a line of flavorful syrups as well. Featuring flavors like mocha, salted caramel, and hazelnut, these sumptuous syrups add intriguing dimensions to dessert-themed co*cktails from espresso martinis to sombreros and mudslides. Use your imagination and mix them into sodas, shakes, and all manner of co*cktails. Low/no-calorie options available: Yes | Size: 750 milliliters | Calories per serving: 0 Final Verdict For a syrup that will do it all—from lattes to co*cktails and more—browse the selection of bottles from Amoretti Premium Syrups. For both unique and tried-and-true flavors (chipotle pineapple, anyone?), we recommend Monin Premium Syrups. As with any product, you want to be aware of what you’re consuming, and the best way to do that is to read the ingredient list. Curious how it’s sweetened? The ingredient list will tell you what kind of sugar is used. Curious about any flavorings or additives? The ingredient list will tell you what types of flavors were added. Allergic or sensitive to any ingredients? The ingredient list is where you should be checking to see if a product is safe for you. There typically isn’t a lot of nutritional information to disclose in syrups considering there are so few ingredients (and therefore nutrients), but this is a quick and easy way to check how much sugar is added and how many calories you’re consuming per serving. Keep in mind that a serving of syrup may just be one pump, so if you’re using multiple pumps of a syrup per beverage, or consuming multiple beverages with syrup per day, you’ll need to multiply that calorie count accordingly. If you are following a low-carbohydrate or low-sugar diet (diabetes, keto, etc), you'll need to check the label and/or the nutrition facts panel to determine if the syrup fits within your lifestyle. If it says 0 calories and 0 grams added sugar, you’re usually good to go. Adding syrup to a drink seems pretty straightforward, but you should still take a moment to read your syrup’s label so you know how to properly use it ahead of time. You’ll want to know if a pump is required (and if so, what kind), how much syrup to use per quantity of beverage, and any particular mixing suggestions. Some brands’ syrups may be more or less potent than others, so it’s always best to do your research beforehand. And remember, you can always add more syrup, but you can’t remove it once you’ve added it to your beverage, so it’s best to start on the modest side, taste, and slowly add more, if desired. Flavored syrups are essentially just simple syrups (a fancy name for sugar dissolved into water, creating a syrup) that have added flavorings. As you can see from the wide array above, there are many different flavoring options, making these syrups useful for many different culinary applications, from coffee to alcoholic mixers. Shelf life varies depending on the brand, as well as storage conditions, if it’s opened or unopened, and if you are using a pump. For example, Monin recommends storing products at room temperature, avoiding high humidity, sunlight, and direct heat, plus capping or covering pumps; if you follow those guidelines, the shelf life is 90-180 days. The shelf life decreases to 30-60 days if using a pump or pour spot. Torani also recommends storing products at room temperature, and they suggest using their syrup by the “Best By” date printed on the bottle, in order to “guarantee the quality and freshness by that date regardless of when the bottle is opened.” If unopened, Torani recommends a shelf life between 15-36 months depending on the particular variety. Moral of the story? Check the label on your syrup or look at the manufacturer’s website for specific recommendations. Colleen Grahamis a food and beverage writer with over a decade of experience writing about co*cktails, beer, and wine. She is the author of two books—Rosé Made Me Do It and Tequila: co*cktails With a Kick—and has developed countless drink recipes. This roundup was updated by Alyssa Langer, a registered dietitian and foodie, always curious about the next food or ingredient craze and hungry to learn and try more. Having worked in cookbook publishing, CPG label data, nutrition writing, and meal kits, her diverse background and varied interests provide a unique perspective that fosters clear, well-researched, and trustworthy reviews. Her favorite syrup/drink combo? Lavender syrup in lemonade—the perfect refreshing, floral summertime drink.:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/best-flavored-syrups-for-beverages-760334-2cb40882d9a247388d26e40afbad2a95.jpg "The Best Flavored Syrups for Beverages in 2024 (1)")
Best for Homemade Soda
Jack Rudy co*cktail Co. Classic Tonic Syrup
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Alyssa is a licensed registered dietitian who covers food and kitchen products. She has written for EatingWell, Martha Stewart, and more and has worked on many America’s Test Kitchen cookbooks.
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Food and Drug Administration. How GMOs are regulated for food and plant safety in the United States.
