Proof Syrup Flavors: A Guide to the Full Lineup

Picking a cocktail syrup is easier than the shelf makes it look. There are five Proof Syrup flavors in the current lineup, each built for a specific job in the glass, and most people only ever need two of them. This guide covers what each one does, which drinks it suits, and how to choose the bottle you should start with.

Proof Syrup simplifies cocktail making by combining raw cane sugar, bitters, and natural flavor oils into one ready-to-use syrup. No muddling, no measuring bitters, no squeezing citrus. Add your spirit, stir, garnish, done.

The Old Fashioned Syrups

Proof started with one goal: perfecting the Old Fashioned. In a three-ingredient drink the sweetener is a third of the cocktail, so it has to carry body and finish rather than just sweetness. That is the slot these syrups are built for. All of them are in the Old Fashioned collection.

Traditional

The original formula: raw cane sugar, aromatic bitters, and real citrus oils. It is the default bottle and the one to buy first. Traditional gets out of the way and lets the whiskey lead, adding the body and rounded finish that plain simple syrup cannot. If you only own one cocktail syrup, own this one.

Best for: classic Old Fashioneds, Manhattans, Gold Rushes, and anything where you want the spirit in front. Available in the standard bottle and an 8 oz size once it becomes your everyday pour.

Maple Bacon

Smoky and savory-sweet, with rich maple up front and a savory finish. It is the boldest flavor in the lineup and the one most likely to convert someone who claims not to like whiskey. The smoke reads as savory alongside food rather than competing with it.

Best for: fall and winter Old Fashioneds, brunch cocktails, whiskey sours, and anything served with something off a grill.

Pecan

Warm roasted pecan, nutty and round without tipping into dessert. It harmonizes with the caramel and vanilla notes already in most bourbons, which makes it the easiest flavored syrup to like. It also happens to be the best partner for aged rum in the whole range.

Best for: Southern-leaning Old Fashioneds, Thanksgiving drinks, spiced builds, and aged rum cocktails.

Black Walnut

Earthy, dry, and slightly bitter. This is the most grown-up bottle in the lineup and the one to reach for when a drink should taste serious. It pairs naturally with rye and with darker, oakier spirits.

Best for: rye Old Fashioneds, Manhattans, and late-night drinks for people who find most flavored syrups too sweet.

Variety of colorful cocktails with citrus and mint garnishes on a dark background.

Orange

Bright and zesty, built on real citrus oils. Orange is the most versatile bottle in the range because it works well outside whiskey entirely. It deepens the orange peel in an Old Fashioned, and it does the work of an orange liqueur in drinks that would otherwise need one.

Best for: margaritas, daiquiris, gin cocktails, spritzes, and lighter, more approachable Old Fashioneds.

Which Bottle Should You Start With?

If you drink Old Fashioneds and want them better, start with Traditional and nothing else. It is the single highest-return change you can make to the drink.

If you already own Traditional and want range, add one flavor based on how you drink. Pecan if you like warm and round. Black Walnut if you like dry and spirit-forward. Maple Bacon if you want something that gets a reaction. Orange if you make more than whiskey drinks.

If you are stocking for a season of entertaining, the 12-bottle case is the version that gets you from football season through New Year's without a reorder.

Allergy and Dietary Notes

Traditional, Maple Bacon, and Orange are made without nuts. Pecan and Black Walnut are nut-based by definition. Because tree nuts are processed in the same facility, cross-contamination is possible, so anyone with a severe nut allergy should exercise caution across the whole range.

All syrups are gluten-free. All are vegan except Maple Bacon. None contain grape products. Traditional and Maple Bacon contain cinnamon and clove.

Storage and Shelf Life

Proof Syrup uses natural ingredients without preservatives. The Old Fashioned syrups are the most stable in the range and last up to two years unopened.

Before opening, syrups are shelf-stable and do not require refrigeration. After opening, refrigerate and shake well before use. Signs of expiration include separation, cloudiness, or off smells, at which point the syrup should be discarded.

Assorted vibrant cocktails with citrus, mint, and berries arranged beside a cocktail shaker.

Making Cocktails Simple

The point of a pre-balanced syrup is that it collapses three steps into one and gives you the same result every time. That consistency matters more than range. Five well-chosen flavors cover nearly every drink most people make at home, and the syrup does the work that would otherwise take a cabinet of one-use liqueurs.

Not sure how much to pour? Start with our Old Fashioned ratio guide, or read up on what makes the best syrup for an Old Fashioned.