Al Culliton Al Culliton

Lemon Syrup

We used this lemon syrup in December 2020’s Victorian Christmas-themed recipes. It’s meant to mimic the lemon peel and sugar mixture of classic punches.

Read More
Al Culliton Al Culliton

Yuletide Syrup

A syrup that first appeared in my Yuletide class in December 2020. It also gives my Barnstable Punch its signature Christmasy flavor.

Read More
Al Culliton Al Culliton

Ginger Liqueur

Homemade liqueurs were common in the eighteenth-century. This brandy-based ginger liqueur is a great item to have on your bar. Beyond October 2021’s Tavern Month drinks, you can try subbing it in for other liqueurs in your favorite templates.

Read More
Al Culliton Al Culliton

Spiced Brown Sugar Syrup

This spiced brown sugar syrup has deeply autumnal flavors and molasses notes. It served us well in Eighteenth-century Tavern Month (October 2021).

Read More
Al Culliton Al Culliton

Simple Syrup

Simple syrup is the most elemental of all cocktail syrups. It adds sweetness without adding much flavor, allowing other ingredients to shine.

Read More
Al Culliton Al Culliton

Spiced Cherry Cordial

This recipe was adapted from Dr. Salmon's Family Dictionary or, Household Companion (1710 edition), which was a popular resource in eighteenth-century American cookery. This cordial was used in our Summer Drinks on the Erie Canal month (July 2021).

Read More
Al Culliton Al Culliton

Ginger Syrup

Ginger syrup can be used in a variety of cocktails from Sours to stirred drinks. We used this version, which is sweetened with honey, for our Summer Drinks on the Erie Canal Month (July 2021).

Read More
Al Culliton Al Culliton

Citrus Cordial

This citrus cordial is ideal for the height of citrus season, when much of the U.S. is bitterly cold. It’s an important ingredient in two of January 2022’s drinks: a sour called An Orange Among the Pines and a citrus-tinged spritz, the Sbagliato D’inverno.

Read More
Al Culliton Al Culliton

Peach Shrub

I developed this peach shrub around using up liqueur from a previous month in place of sugar. I love the way it turned out. It figured heavily in July 2021, when we explored the Erie Canal’s heyday.

Read More
Al Culliton Al Culliton

“Apriçao”

“Apriçao” is an Al’s Cocktail Club original. A pleasing mix of peach or apricot liqueur and Curaçao, it popped up in a few of our June 2021 recipes.

Read More
Al Culliton Al Culliton

Strawberry meringue

I developed this strawberry meringue to top an Edwardian punch for April 2025’s Secret Garden theme. I like how it’s like a pink cloud floating on a fruity punch!

Read More
Al Culliton Al Culliton

Orgeat

Orgeat is an almond syrup that was used long before “tiki” got started, but became much more famous as a tropical ingredient, especially as a component in the Mai Tai. This recipe is adapted from the Fort Defiance house recipe.

Read More
Al Culliton Al Culliton

Vanilla Syrup

We used this vanilla syrup (borrowed from Gigantic) for our March 2023 Gold Rush-themed drinks.

Read More
Al Culliton Al Culliton

Strawberry syrup

This is the strawberry syrup we make at Gigantic that uses a muddle-and-heat method that Ned developed for our raspberry syrup. It’s very good!

Read More
Al Culliton Al Culliton

Rich Demerara Syrup

Rich demerara syrup pops up a lot in the tropical genre and beyond. We used it in our 1930s- and ‘40s-inspired Tiki Month (June 2021).

Read More
Al Culliton Al Culliton

Fig Syrup

This fig syrup added “leather armchair” notes of dried fruit and tobacco to our cocktails in November 2022. It’s a “rich” syrup, so keep that in mind if you’re looking to sub it into other recipes.

Read More
Al Culliton Al Culliton

Spiced Angostura Bitters

This Spiced Angostura bitters recipe comes from St John Frizell and his great bar team at Brooklyn’s Gage & Tollner. We used them in June 2021 for 1930s and ‘40s Tiki Month.

Read More
Al Culliton Al Culliton

Vanilla-Orange Cordial

If you like creamsicles, this cordial is for you. We used it in a couple of drinks for April 2021’s Tom Bullock month.

Read More
Al Culliton Al Culliton

Grenadine (FD version)

Homemade grenadine is a thing of beauty. This recipe was adapted from the house recipe at Fort Defiance, which was derived from the NoMad’s recipe. We used this grenadine in our Tom Bullock month back in April of 2021. He was a great fan of grenadine.

Read More