I am on an AF journey and I splurged when there was a sale, purchasing several samplers. None of the flavors I tried were overly sugary or anything close to a simple syrup masquerading as something for soda or cocktails (or mocktails! Though they need a better name). These included the following flavors:
Authentic Ginger
Bright Chai
Brown Sugar Simple Syrup
Hibiscus-Cardamon
Lavender
Marionberry
Pomegranate Cherry
Raspberry Rhubarb
Rose City Tonic
Rose Cordial
Spiced Cranberry
Spicy Ginger
True Cola
Vanilla Rooibos
Yuzu
Still reading? Here’s some opinions specific to my taste buds and maybe relevant to yours.
Authentic Ginger- This syrup delivers some ginger kick, but I’d invest your money in the “spicy ginger” if you’re looking for something more potent than a mild ginger ale.
Bright Chai- Yum! Not tongue numbing like some chai syrups and preparations. Ordered more of this one.
Brown Sugar Simple Syrup- yeah okay, this is a simple syrup and, unsurprisingly, it tastes like one. I don’t know what I was thinking when I purchased this comparatively tame in name variation. I guess I was tempted by the brown sugar, although I could have easily tried my hand at a diy version as frequently I make simple syrup with white sugar. Who knows. If you’re looking for a fast solution for your simple syrup needs with the caramelized notes of brown sugar, give it a shot.
Hibiscus-Cardamon- Nice flavor combination. Both the hibiscus and cardamom come through clearly without being cloying, numbing like nutmeg, or too otherwise weak to detect. Ordered again.
Lavender- Obviously very floral. Not all that sweet. I enjoy layering this one with other flavors in drinks rather than on its own. It adds an interesting profile to the mix.
Marionberry- Reminds me of time in the Pacific Northwest. Nice berry flavor, but it requires a heavier pour for stronger notes of berry to shine through.
Pomegranate Cherry- Another top favorite. Much tastier than the multiple attempts at this type of flavor that I’ve made with juice combinations from different brands previously at home. Ordered again.
Raspberry Rhubarb- The one (tiny) note I would have is that this flavor tasted chemical-steeped to me, especially compared to all of the others I sampled. I suggest seeking your rhubarb and raspberry kicks elsewhere.
Rose City Tonic- Very rose forward, but less so than the cordial. Ordered more to add variety to my collection.
Rose Cordial- All rose all the time. Floral without being gross. I liked it better combined than on its own.
Spiced Cranberry- I didn’t pick up the spice notes the name promised. Not bad, not great.
Spicy Ginger- Much better than the regular ginger in my opinion. Something akin to, and ‘spicier’ than many pre-packaged ginger ales and ginger beers.
True Cola- I liked it. Still playing with my own cola mix. This does a great job as a placeholder.
Vanilla Rooibos- True vanilla. I thought this one was a rich flavor coming in hot on the vanilla. I suggest using sparingly to start then adjusting it to your own taste.
Yuzu- Nice gentle notes of Yuzu. Nothing more nothing less. I remain on the market for a better yuzu option.
Happy mixology experimenting! Also worth noting, customer service was out of this world fantastic when I had a shipping issue.
