Jack Rudy Cocktail Co's Grenadine For Grown-Ups

Jack Rudy Cocktail Co. makes grenadine for the grown-ups

Most grenadine is so sticky-sweet that only a child might find it appealing (hence, the genius invention of the Shirley Temple).

But the brightly colored syrup actually has a long history in adult beverages. Traditionally made with pomegranate juice and orange-blossom water, it is a requisite in drinks like the Jack Rose and the El Presidente.

And thanks to Jack Rudy Cocktail Co., makers of the popular tonic syrup, classic grenadine is back ($32 for two 17-ounce bottles).

To make its version, the Jack Rudy team tapped a small pomegranate farm in Northern California called Home Grown Cellars, which uses a custom press to juice its fruit. "The machine juices the pomegranates whole, so you get the flavors of the seeds and pith, all those tannins, in the juice," Jack Rudy founder Brooks Reitz told us.

The resulting grenadine is surprisingly tart, with a deliciously bready aroma.

This syrup's all grown up.