She Strengthens

Elevate Your Tiki Cocktails with a Custom Falernum Recipe

The Classic Syrup Reborn

Falernum, a sweet and spicy syrup, was once a staple in tiki bars during the golden era of cocktails. This flavorful elixir, infused with clove, citrus, and nut flavors, added a unique twist to rum-based drinks like the iconic Zombie. But before falernum became widely available, enthusiasts had to get creative and make their own.

A Recipe Born from Experimentation

Cocktail Chronicles blogger Paul Clarke spent a year perfecting his homemade falernum recipe, experimenting with different ingredients and techniques. After eight attempts, he finally hit the jackpot with a recipe that’s both easy to make and bursting with flavor.

Get Ready to Shake Things Up

This DIY falernum recipe yields 2 1/2 cups of syrup, perfect for elevating your tiki cocktails to new heights. With a difficulty level of “easy” and a total prep time of just 20 minutes (plus infusing time), you’ll be sipping on a Zombie in no time.

Gather Your Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons blanched, slivered almonds
• 40 whole cloves, crushed
• 3/4 cup white rum
• Finely grated zest of 9 medium limes
• 1 (3-inch piece) fresh ginger, peeled and julienned
• 1 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons superfine sugar
• 3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon warm water
• 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice, strained
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract

The Art of Falernum-Making

Step 1: Toast and Infuse
Toast the almonds and cloves in a small, dry frying pan over medium heat until the almonds are golden and the cloves are aromatic, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat to cool slightly, about 3 minutes. Combine the toasted ingredients with rum, lime zest, and ginger in a 2-cup nonreactive container with a tightfitting lid. Cover, shake to combine, and let the mixture sit for 24 hours at room temperature.

Step 2: Create the Simple Syrup
Combine sugar and water in a 1-quart container with a tightfitting lid. Cover and shake until all the sugar has dissolved and the mixture looks clear, about 5 minutes. You should have 1 3/4 cups; set aside.

Step 3: Strain and Combine
After 24 hours, strain the rum mixture through a moistened cheesecloth or several layers of paper towels set in a fine mesh strainer over a small bowl. Add the strained liquid, lime juice, and almond extract to the reserved simple syrup. Shake until combined.

Enjoy Your Handiwork
Keep your homemade falernum refrigerated for up to 1 month and get ready to elevate your tiki cocktails to new heights.