HipStirs Craft Cocktail Syrups

How’s your “dry” January going? Has it become “dry-ish” or have you given it up altogether? Or maybe you didn’t even try to go dry?  Or perhaps you’re sober and want to try something new to drink in the vein of  craft cocktails? Well, I’m trying to be dry-ish this January and in 2024 in general, so given the opportunity to experiment with Hipstirs Craft Cocktail Syrup Trio, I suggested to Sue we do them with a non-alcoholic cane sugar rum that I had on hand paired with instant pot pork shoulder Barbacoa tacos. Keep reading for the three “dry” craft cocktails she came up with– and how we added a little alcohol make them “dry-ish”!

HipStirs Craft Cocktail Syrups

First, a little bit about Hipstirs.

Hipstirs has a number of different delightful cocktail mixers, LOTS of recipe ideas (here), and all of their mixers are made with natural fresh ingredients and no artificial sweeteners. We sampled the Holiday Cocktail Syrup Trio Pack (SRP $40) which included Cranberry Pie, Pumpkin Spice, and Old Fashioned. DO NOT TELL ME you are over pumpkin pie spice! And they’re on sale for Valentine’s Day code word LOVE at checkout.

HipStirs Dry and “Dry-ish” Cocktails

They also offer Mocktail Kits (SRP $45) which use a HipStirs cocktail syrup with ingredients like Fever Tree Tonic Water, Ritual Zero Proof Tequila, Ingrilli Lime Squeeze and dehydrated lime garnish plus recipe cards. For G & T fans, how about a Blackberry Mint Gin & Tonic Kit?  The Lavender Haze Daiquiri Kit offers “soothing aroma of lavender with a zesty twist of citrus.” A final offering is the Strawberry Basil Margarita Kit.

HipStirs Old Fashioned– “Dry” and “Dry-ish” Cocktail

HipStirs Old Fashioned– “Dry” and “Dry-ish” Cocktail 

• 1/2 oz Old Fashioned Syrup (SRP $15)
• 1oz Cane Sugar rum
• 1 oz fresh squeezed orange juice
• 1/2 pomegranate juice
• 1 oz Chinotto sparkling soda from San Pellegrino
• top with Santa Cruz radiant rose inspired sparkling white grape juice
• Very nicely balanced cocktail, sweet and tart
• Works well with the barbacoa 

Dryish: After we tasted the alcohol free cocktail, we decided to add a little Mitchter’s Single Straight Rye Whiskey which mellowed the sweetness and making it even better with the Barbacoa Taco Bar. The toast of the barrel in the Rye Whiskey adds a coconut flavor to the cocktail. 

HipStirs Dry Cranberry Pie and “Dry-ish” Cocktail

HipStirs Dry Cranberry Pie and “Dry-ish” Cocktail

• 1oz Cane Sugar Rum
• 1/2 oz Cranberry Pie Syrup (SRP $15)
• 1 1/2 oz fresh squeezed mandarin orange juice
• 1 oz fresh squeezed lime juice
• Top with Santa Cruz radiant roses inspired sparkling white grape juice
• There is a nice herbal quality to the cranberry syrup that works well nicely in the cocktail, piney finish. 

Dryish: For a dryish cocktail, add a shot of Sapphire Bombay Gin The gin sharpens the flavors in this unique cocktail experience. The juniper and Christmas flavors in the alcohol highlight the cocktail nicely. Cranberry juice and orange are a great combination and are perfect together in this festive cocktail. This was Sue’s favorite of all. 

HipStirs Dry Pumpkin Spice and “Dry-ish” Cocktail

HipStirs Dry Pumpkin Spice and “Dry-ish” Cocktail

• 1/2 oz Pumpkin Spice (SRP $15; on sale for $10)
• 1oz Cane Sugar Rum
• 2 oz Immunity (Mandarin, Ginger, Habanero Juice)
• Top with Santa Cruz radiant rose inspired sparkling white grape juice
• Tastes fresh and light, fresh pumpkin and fresh cinnamon.
• It is a sweet drink, great for the end of the evening, with or instead of dessert.

Dryish: For our alcoholic version, we added a shot of  Captain Morgan Gingerbread spiced rum and a 1/2 shot of Neturo Gingebiere, It was alright with our Barbacoa taco bar bringing out the spicy kick in the cocktail. However, Sue just wanted it as an after dinner cocktail accompanied with some dessert. Think apple pie, pumpkin pie, Sue felt it would be perfect with her holiday Spicy Gingersnaps. We broke out a Shortbread French Butter Cookie to test the theory, It worked very well with the cocktail as a terrific dessert pairing. 

Cheers!