Syrups & Mixers Archives - First Pour Cocktails

Pumpkin Real: Pumpkin Puree Infused Syrup

Posted on October 6, 2023 by Nick

It’s no secret that buying syrups is not something recommended in craft cocktails. That said, not all syrups are easy to make or something that you want to take the time to make. Pumpkin spice syrup has many iterations of varying difficulties. Some of these, like our own (used in the Basic Witch and Apple Spice Harvest) do not include puree, and are very easy to make. Others, include pumpkin puree, which are slightly more difficult. Since ours doesn’t include puree, we decided to see what the easy route was like, and try Pumpkin Real: Pumpkin Puree Infused Syrup

Pumpkin Real: Pumpkin Puree Infused Syrup

In addition to the above, my wife had a wonderful experience with syrup in a Pumpkin Pie Margarita at a Cleveland Cavalier’s game. So we didn’t enter this completely blind. Does it hold up when it isn’t free?

Ingredients: Sugar, Pumpkin Puree, Glycerol, Water, Seasonings, Contains Sulfites, Sodium Alginate, Potassium Sorbate (To Preserve Freshness)
Calories: 100 / 1 oz
Total Sugars: 23g / 1 oz

Sight: Thick, rich, orangey-brown that looks like a liquid pumpkin pie.

Smell: The pumpkin pie filling characteristic carries forward here with clearly defined elements of roasted pumpkin, bright cloves, fresh ginger, and plenty of cinnamon. It honestly smells amazingly like pie filling.

Sip: It’s thick. Not like cream, like milkshake or smoothie thick. The flavors of pumpkin pie filling, from roasted pumpkin to all the baking spices (clove, cinnamon, ginger, et al) all come forward. There’s a nice caramelized sugar flavor that runs through the back. Unsurprisingly, it’s all quite sweet.

Savor: Pumpkin pie lingers deliciously with all the spice and sweetness.

Look – Pumpkin Real: Pumpkin Puree Infused Syrup is syrup. The vast majority of people aren’t going to drink this neat. That said, if you’re looking for pumpkin puree that tastes like pumpkin pie on it’s own, this syrup is very well made. Overall, it’s a very pleasant, pumpkin forward syrup that implies it would do well in cocktails.

In Cocktails

In everything we used it from, from Margaritas to Old Fashioneds, Pumpkin Real: Pumpkin Puree Infused Syrup has performed beautifully. It manages to convey great flavors of pumpkin puree and baking spices without overwhelming the base spirits. There are two very small issues we’ve seen with this syrup. First, it’s thick, and occasionally sticks in the shaker or mixing vessel. This thickness also impacts the texture of drinks slightly (how you feel about this will be personal preference, I think it’s quite nice). The second small issue is just the amount of it that drinks seem to require to get the amount of pumpkin flavor to where we like it (it’s quite a bit more than most syrups we use). These are the smallest quibbles in the grand scheme of things, as in general, it performs fantastically.

In Review – Pumpkin Real: Pumpkin Puree Infused Syrup

Pumpkin Real: Pumpkin Puree Infused Syrup is fantastic for the money. While I was initially doubtful, this pumpkin puree is wonderful for quickly turning out pumpkin flavored cocktails and other drinks. If you’re a fan of that profile, I can’t recommend it enough. You can pick one up from Amazon*.

* – This link is an affiliate link which may result in us getting a partial commission from the sale. In 2022 we made $13.34 from affiliate links and made $12.78 so far in 2023, while we’ve spent well over $200 on just webhosting. Help us keep the lights on if you like our content, and please use our links!

Small Hand Foods Orgeat Syrup

Posted on November 7, 2022November 6, 2022 by Nick

Orgeat (pronounced or-zhaat[american] or or-zsa [french]) is a sweet syrup made from almonds, sugar, and either rose water or orange blossom water. Originally made from barley, it was used as a shelf stable substitute for milk. While you can make your own, there are numerous commercial, high quality options available, such as Small Hand Foods Orgeat Syrup. Be aware, while you can find large quantities of orgeat for cheap (such as Monin or Ferrara), these options usually contain preservatives or artificial flavors to provide the almond / marzipan flavors.

Small Hand Foods Orgeat Syrup

Made from California almonds, apricot kernels, organic cane sugar, orange flower water, and California brandy, Small Hand Food’s Orgeat is very natural and will settle. Shake if this occurs and before using.

Sight: Somewhat cloudy, a hazy yellowish / almond color.

Smell: Nutty, floral, slightly creamy. There’s a touches of marzipan and almond biscuit, as well as a stone fruit like character.

Sip: Nuttiest and floral notes give way toward preserved peaches and apricot. The nuttiness becomes more like pecan pie filling, if it were instead made of almonds. It is also very sweet and creamy, although not unexpectedly.

Savor: The ending carries over marzipan, stone fruit, and creaminess. It lingers sweetly for a while.

Small Hand Foods Orgeat Syrup is very natural tasting, and obviously incredibly sweet and creamy. As this is syrup used for modifying drinks or recipes, you wouldn’t necessarily ever have cause to drink it straight. It is, however, important to understand how it tastes to understand how it will potentially impact the drink. As this is delicious and more subtle, it should contribute similar things.

In Cocktails

Small Hand Foods Orgeat Syrup adds nuttiness and subtle touches of a sweetness. In a Cameron’s Kick, it doesn’t get pushy. Instead it gently adds a sweetness and subtly gives a hint to almonds. There isn’t a lot of weight added. Instead it allows the cocktail to be drier, and plays more background notes.

In Review – Small Hand Foods Orgeat Syrup

Small Hand Foods Orgeat Syrup is subtle, sweet, and flavorful. It doesn’t get pushy, but adds the almond and creamy notes that help build the drink. That said, those expecting something sweeter may find they need to use more to achieve the result they would like. For those willing to pay the extra, we currently recommend keeping Small Hand Foods Orgeat Syrup around.

Find it at Amazon*

* – This link is an affiliate link which may result in us getting a partial commission from the sale. To date (as of publication), we’ve made $8.53 from affiliate links in 2022, while we’ve spent well over $200 on just webhosting. Help us keep the lights on if you like our content, and please use our links!