Tippleman’s Burnt Sugar Syrup

Tippleman's Burnt Sugar Syrup is a 13 fl oz (384 mL) bottle of syrup made from two ingredients — nothing else: unrefined golden cane sugar (high molasses content) slowly kettle-cooked past the caramelization stage, 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, handcrafted in small batches with no co-packer, available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.

• Size: 13 fl oz / 384 mL
• Ingredients: golden cane sugar, water — nothing else
• Profile: tart, bittersweet complexity — sour cherry, caramel, brittle, toast, molasses, smoke
• Origin: Tippleman's (Bittermilk Bottling Co.), Charleston, SC, USA
• Use: Old Fashioneds with aged spirits; iced coffee, ice cream, baking (molasses substitute)
• Storage: refrigerate after opening; use within 4 weeks, by the Best By date; shelf life 12–24 months

Caramel, Pushed Past the Edge

Most caramel syrups stop where it gets sweet. This one keeps going: the cane sugar is kettle-cooked past caramelization into something tart and bittersweet — sour cherry, brittle, toast, a wisp of smoke — with the molasses depth that only unrefined sugar brings. It's why the brand suggests it for Old Fashioneds: against bourbon or rye it reads less like a sweetener and more like a bitter, adding dark complexity instead of just sugar. The same character makes it a kitchen ingredient — drizzled over ice cream, stirred into iced coffee, or swapped for molasses in recipes. Average pour ¾ oz, about 17 cocktails per bottle. For the whiskey end of the shelf, compare the barrel smoked maple, or see the full Tippleman's line.

Tasting Notes

Dark and bittersweet — sour cherry and caramel up front, brittle and toast underneath, a smoke-and-molasses depth from the unrefined cane sugar. Tart complexity rather than straightforward sweetness.

How to Enjoy

Start with an Old Fashioned — it's the brand's suggested home. Also works as a foil in tropical or sour cocktails, in iced coffee, over ice cream, or as a molasses substitute in baking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is burnt sugar just caramel?
It's caramel taken further — cooked past the caramelization stage for tart, bittersweet, almost smoky complexity.

What are the ingredients?
Just golden cane sugar and water — two ingredients, nothing else.

What's the best cocktail for it?
An Old Fashioned with bourbon or rye, where its dark bittersweetness complements the whiskey.

Can I cook with it?
Yes — drizzled over ice cream, in iced coffee, or as a molasses substitute.

Dark, not just sweet — order Tippleman's Burnt Sugar Syrup online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.