Tippleman’s Barrel Aged Cola Syrup
Tippleman's Barrel Aged Cola Syrup is a 13 fl oz (384 mL) bottle of homemade cola concentrate: hand-peeled orange, lemon, and lime skins combined with freshly ground spices, vanilla bean, and golden cane sugar, then aged in once-used Willett bourbon barrels, by Tippleman's, the small-batch syrup line from Bittermilk Bottling Co. of Charleston, South Carolina, founded by husband-and-wife bartenders Joe and MariElena Raya of The Gin Joint, created by bartenders for bartenders, available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- Size: 13 fl oz / 384 mL
- Ingredients: golden cane sugar, water, orange/lemon/lime peel, spices (proprietary), vanilla bean, phosphoric acid — aged in Willett bourbon barrels
- Profile: familiar American cola — caramel, whiskey, vanilla, cream soda, citrus
- Origin: Tippleman's (Bittermilk Bottling Co.), Charleston, SC, USA
- Use: homemade cola soda (add soda water), ice cream floats, Old Fashioneds and stirred aged-spirit cocktails, gin fizz
- Storage: refrigerate after opening; use within 4 weeks, by the Best By date; shelf life 12–24 months
Cola, From Before the Fountain Died
Before cola came from a gun, it was a spiced citrus syrup — and Tippleman's rebuilt that version with a bourbon-barrel twist. Hand-peeled citrus skins, freshly ground spices (the exact inventory is the brand's proprietary blend), vanilla bean, and cane sugar go into once-used Willett bourbon barrels and come out tasting like familiar American cola with whiskey and vanilla woven through it — caramel, cream soda, citrus, and charred-barrel depth. The brand's bartender notes point three directions: soda water for homemade cola, floats over ice cream, and — best of all — aged spirits, where the creamy cola notes turn an Old Fashioned or a gin fizz into something unexpected. Average pour 1 oz, about 13 cocktails per bottle. Try it against the burnt sugar syrup for dark-sweetener range, or see all of Tippleman's.
Tasting Notes
Recognizably cola — caramel and citrus up front — with vanilla bean creaminess and a whiskey warmth from the Willett barrel aging. Cream-soda roundness underneath; more dimensional than fountain cola.
How to Enjoy
Add soda water for homemade cola; pour over ice cream for floats; or mix with bourbon in an Old Fashioned and in stirred cocktails with aged spirits. The brand also suggests it in a classic gin fizz.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I make cola soda from this?
Mix with soda water to taste — it's a concentrate, roughly 1 oz per drink.
What makes it "barrel aged"?
It's aged in once-used Willett bourbon barrels, which add vanilla and whiskey notes.
What spices are in it?
Citrus peels and vanilla bean are stated; the rest is the brand's proprietary spice blend.
Can I use it in cocktails?
Yes — it's excellent with aged spirits: Old Fashioneds, stirred cocktails, and gin fizzes.
Real cola, barrel-rested — order Tippleman's Barrel Aged Cola Syrup online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.