Substitutes For Falernum

Falernum is a sweet, citrusy, and spicy syrup used as a staple ingredient in many classic and modern cocktails. Despite its popularity, many establishments don’t stock it, as acquiring it can be challenging. If you find yourself in this treacherous predicament, fear not. This article explores excellent alternatives that seamlessly replace falernum in your favorite cocktails.

What is Falernum?

Falernum is a rum-based liqueur or non-alcoholic cocktail syrup with a unique blend of flavors, including almond, ginger, cloves, allspice, and lime. It adds depth and complexity to beverages and is popular in tiki drinks like the Zombie or Mai Tai. It is also used to sweeten desserts, like rice pudding.

The Best Falernum Substitutes

Given the essential ingredients of falernum, substitutes are easily accessible and assembled. You could either buy a similar commercial product or make your own. Since sugar acts as a preservative, most of these substitutes can be stored at room temperature in a sealed glass bottle for months. Unless you have young adult children who help themselves to your booze, of course.

Let’s get started on the best substitutes:

DIY Falernum

Before exploring commercial alternatives, consider making your own falernum at home. This allows you to tailor the flavors (and sugar content) to your preferences. To create the basic syrup, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• White rum
• Lime zest
• Fresh ginger, peeled and grated
• Cloves
• Almonds
• Syrup

How to Make It

1. Combine the first five ingredients (everything except the syrup) and allow the flavors to infuse for a few days.
2. Strain the mix into a bowl or jug and add simple syrup to achieve the desired sweetness. 
3. Store in a sealable glass bottle to minimize the alcohol evaporation.
4. Add to summer cocktails or winter puddings with unbridled joy.

Orgeat Syrup

Sometimes falernum is likened to a spicy Orgeat syrup, so it makes sense to use that as an alternative. The flavor profile of the creamy and opalescent orgeat syrup is similar to our tiki favorite, as it is made with almonds, sugar, and rose or orange flower water.

While it offers a similar sweetness and nutty flavor to falernum, orgeat syrup lacks spice notes, which is great for those who don’t enjoy ginger or cloves. However, you could add a pinch of ground ginger and some drops of lime juice to mimic its complexity.

This substitute is suitable for those avoiding alcohol. Additionally, you can make orgeat syrup easily at home, meaning you can use a suitable sugar replacement if you’re cutting down on carbs.

Ginger Syrup

Ginger syrup provides a robust and spicy flavor that can substitute for the ginger kick in falernum. You can enhance the taste of ginger syrup by adding a splash of almond extract and some lime juice. If your concoction isn’t sweet enough, you can adjust the sweetness with simple syrup to balance the flavors according to your preferences.

This alternative, like the orgeat syrup option mentioned above, is a good substitute for those wanting to make a virgin cocktail.

Spiced Honey Syrup

Making your own spiced honey syrup is another substitute that can resemble falernum’s sweetness and complexity minus the alcohol. You can make your own by blending honey, warm spices such as cloves, a smidgen of lime, and a touch of almond extract.

You’d have to experiment with the spice ratios and infusion times to achieve the desired flavor balance for your needs.

Allspice Dram

Allspice dram (also called pimento dram) is another Caribbean liqueur made using allspice berries. This liqueur has a robust flavor profile with hints of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, making it an excellent substitute for falernum. However, using only small quantities of allspice dram is advisable because its flavor can easily overpower the other flavors in your cocktail.

Ginger Liqueur

Let me start by saying I love ginger liqueur! My Mum visited her brother in England and brought two bottles home. I recall sitting on cold winter nights by the fireplace, sipping it, and enjoying the warm glow it gives in your belly.

Ok, back to ginger liqueur as a substitute: it offers a strong ginger flavor and a touch of sweetness, making it a good alternative for falernum. If you want to enhance its complexity, consider adding a few dashes of bitters and a squeeze of lime juice. 

Tiki Bitters

Tiki bitters is another excellent alternative to falernum, as it is specifically designed to complement tropical cocktails. It replicates the spiciness and complexity of falernum, and only a few drops are required to add depth and character to your drinks.

Cinnamon Syrup

The last substitute we’ll cover in this article is cinnamon syrup. This syrup is made by simmering cinnamon sticks with sugar and water. Paired with additional ingredients like almond extract, ground ginger, and lime juice, it can contribute warmth and spicy notes reminiscent of falernum but without the alcohol content.

Understanding Falernum

Falernum is believed to have originated in Barbados in the 1700s at various sugar estate distilleries. It became popular in America in the 1930s. Its origins are a little obscure, so there’s no original recipe from which to work. 

After Prohibition ended in the early 1930s, the famed Don Beach opened his bar in Hollywood called Don’s Beachcomber. It was here that Don created the Zombie cocktail, which included falernum. This helped boost its popularity, and other variants, including non-alcoholic syrups, started emerging. 

However, the first person to develop and commercialize falernum was John D. Taylor. He started production around 1890 in Bridgetown, Barbados, using a recipe that was an adaptation of many other recipes, and production continues to this day.

Is Falernum Healthy?

Falernum, like all alcoholic and sugary products, is best enjoyed in moderation. It’s made using a white rum base and has added sugar to create a syrupy consistency. These two ingredients alone push up the carbohydrate percentage of falernum.

The botanicals added to this liqueur have negligible quantities of micronutrients. Additionally, it contains no fats or proteins. Non-alcoholic variants of falernum would be a healthier choice but still contain large amounts of sugar. Want more? Try other alternatives like Frangelico.

Reasons to Substitute Falernum

As delicious as falernum is, it’s sometimes necessary to substitute it. The reasons for this could be the following:

• Your local liquor supplier doesn’t stock it.
• You can’t afford to buy the real deal.
• You must avoid alcohol or sugar for dietary reasons.
• You’re allergic to one or more of the ingredients.
• You need a Mai Tai right now (it’s drink-o’-clock somewhere in the world).

Related Questions

Do you still want to know more about falernum? Here are some FAQs that could answer your questions.

Conclusion

Falernum is a unique ingredient that’s essential in many cocktails. While its flavor profile is irreplaceable, there are several viable alternatives available. The examples discussed in this article included DIY and commercial options that can be tweaked to mimic the exclusive flavor of this Caribbean delight.