The 8 Best Substitutes For Falernum

What can I use instead of Falernum? The best substitute for falernum is a homemade version of the syrup. You can also use orgeat syrup, allspice dram, grenadine syrup, ginger beer with lime, Fassionola, POG, or maple syrup.

Falernum syrup is a sweet syrup liqueur used in cocktails. It is a Caribbean drink that contains elements of lime, ginger, and almonds with spicey overtones of cloves or allspice. Falernum adds a sweet, citrusy flavor to classic tropical tiki cocktails. The syrup can be clear or yellow-tinged and is available in alcoholic or nonalcoholic forms. It is sometimes consumed neat on the rocks.

The Best Falernum Substitutes

Homemade Falernum

Falernum syrup has a unique taste profile and isn’t always easy to find in stores. Fortunately, the famous tropical drink is easy to make at home.

To make your own authentic-tasting falernum syrup, you will need raw almonds, cloves, rum, limes, sugar, and water. You may also like to add a touch of ginger to the recipe.

Unfortunately, since the almonds need to steep, it does need to be made a few days ahead of when it is required.

DIY falernum is by far the closest taste substitute that you will find for this unique product.

Orgeat Syrup

Orgeat syrup is a sweet, almond-based syrup used to flavor tropical drinks. Its flavor is strongly reminiscent of marzipan.

The syrup is nonalcoholic but is often mixed into rum or other spirits to create boozy, sweet cocktails. It is a key ingredient in the famous Mai Tai cocktail.

Falernum and orgeat syrup cannot be used interchangeably as falernum has strong elements of lime and ginger, and orgeat has a distinctly almondy taste.

Orgeat syrup can be flavored with a touch of allspice or ginger to give it a spiciness to make it a closer taste match to falernum.

Since orgeat syrup is popularly used to flavor tropical drinks, it can be a suitable substitute for falernum. It delivers an unmistakably tropical flavor.

Orgeat and falernum have intense flavors and should always be used sparingly to flavor drinks.

Allspice Dram

Allspice dram is a potent cocktail ingredient made with a mixture of sugar, rum, and allspice. It is a traditional Jamaican drink that adds a dimension to the simple, sweet fruitiness of tropical tiki cocktails.

Some DIY versions of allspice can also contain ginger or cloves, giving the drink a distinctive taste that can be described as Christmassy. This element makes it strongly reminiscent of falernum.

Take note that allspice dram is always alcoholic, so it is not a suitable replacement for anyone needing a nonalcoholic alternative to falernum.

Grenadine Syrup

Grenadine is a popular nonalcoholic syrup that adds fruity flavor and color to beverages. It is made from pomegranate and has a distinctive deep red color.

Although grenadine doesn’t have the complex spicey profile of falernum, it will provide a sweet, fruity taste that works well in many tropical-themed drinks.

To make it a closer taste match, add it to ginger beer and garnish with lime.

Grenadine syrup cannot be used as a direct replacement for falernum, and they don’t look the same. However, it is an inexpensive, versatile cocktail ingredient that can add the sweetness you need to replace falernum.

Ginger Beer And Lime

Besides cloves, ginger and lime are among the most prominent tastes in falernum. Fortunately, ginger beer is available everywhere, and by mixing it with rum and adding a splash of lime, you can create a zesty tiki cocktail using what you have.

The mixture of ginger beer and lime will result in a refreshing cocktail infused with two elements of falernum but without the strong almond nutty tone.

Serve it alone to make a simple ginger-lime fizz, or add rum to create a classic Jamaican Mule.

Fassionola

Fassionola syrup is a fruity syrup that was once widely used in Tiki cocktails. It is most commonly red but is also available in green and gold varieties.

No one knows for sure what the recipe contains, as it has a slightly convoluted history. What we do know is that it is a sweet fruity syrup that contains passion fruit.

While Fassionola lacks the complexity of falernum, it does go hand in hand with tiki-style cocktails. It provides bright color and sweetness that can work as a tasty substitute for falernum in some mixed drinks.

POG

POG is a Hawaiian fruit punch that lends a tropical feel to cocktails. The name is an acronym for the three fruits contained in the blend, namely passion fruit, oranges, and guavas.

You will not be able to replicate the taste of Falernum with POG, but it lends itself to flavoring and sweetening tropical-style drinks and cocktails. Like Falernum, POG works well to complement rum-based beverages.

POG offers a mild substitute for anyone who wants a fruity tropical taste but without falernum’s strong almond and clove overtones.

Maple Syrup

Maple syrup is a staple syrup condiment in most households. It is a sweet sticky substance made from the sap of maple trees.

Maple syrup does not have the complex taste and almond nuttiness of falernum, but it will work to add natural sweetness to cocktail drinks. Counter the monotone sweetness by adding something like ginger or lime.

Team the maple syrup ingredient up with a twist of lime and a pinch of allspice to give it a more authentic touch.