Sonic, the popular American fast food chain known for its extensive drive-in menu and roller skating carhops, has used the same signature cherry syrup recipe to flavor several of its frozen treats since its founding in 1953. This thick, sweet red syrup provides a distinctive cherry taste to customer favorites like Sonic’s Cherry Limeades, Cherry Blasts, and Cherry Sonic Freezes.
The History of Sonic’s Cherry Syrup
Sonic’s unique spinning blend of ice, flavoring, and syrups, mixed to order at each location, has been central to its brand identity from the beginning. When Sonic founder Troy Smith opened the first drive-in in Shawnee, Oklahoma in 1953, he created signature syrup recipes to differentiate Sonic’s soft drinks and frozen treats from competitors. The original cherry syrup recipe, adjusted and perfected over many tasting trials, resulted in the proprietary cherry flavoring still used in Sonic drinks today.
Smith worked with a local pharmacy to develop Sonic’s syrup recipes and sugar-based flavor concentrates. The distinctive cherry syrup, bright red in color, struck the right balance of sweetness and tart cherry taste. From the first sip of an early Sonic Cherry Coke in 1953, customers were hooked on the signature Sonic cherry flavor.
The popularity of Sonic’s cherry syrup increased rapidly through the 1950s and 1960s as new franchise locations opened and the menu expanded. The drive-in chain became known for refreshing Cherry Limeades served by smiling carhops on roller skates. Milkshakes and ice cream treats like Sonic’s new Cherry Sonic Freeze also highlighted the cherry syrup’s flavor. By the 1970s, Sonic’s Cherry Coke, made with the proprietary cherry syrup, had achieved cult status. Sonic’s cherry syrup was an integral part of the brand’s identity and success.
The Secret Ingredients of Sonic’s Cherry Syrup
Sonic has protected the confidential recipe for its signature cherry syrup closely through the decades. Only a few approved suppliers have access to the complete list of ingredients and detailed manufacturing process. However, some of the key components used to create the one-of-a-kind flavor are known. These include:
- High fructose corn syrup – thickens texture and provides sweetness
- Natural and artificial cherry flavorings – create authentic cherry taste
- Citric acid – adds tartness reminiscent of real cherries
- Red food coloring – gives vivid red color
- Preservatives – prolong shelf life and stability
The unique proprietary blend of these ingredients, including exact amounts and order of mixing, is what gives Sonic’s cherry syrup its distinctive sweet yet tart cherry profile. Chemists have worked for the company for decades to monitor and adjust the recipe to maintain consistency across changing ingredient sources and production scales.
How Sonic’s Cherry Syrup is Produced
Although the cherry syrup recipe itself is confidential, the basic production method used to make Sonic’s famous syrup is common knowledge. Sonic relies on a handful of authorized bottling plants around the country to mix large batches of the concentrated syrup. The process follows strict quality control guidelines. Here are the basic steps:
- Measure precise amounts of sweeteners, water, flavorings, coloring, and preservatives
- Blend ingredients in large kettle tanks
- Bring mixture to a boil while stirring continuously
- Reduce heat and simmer for a set time to activate flavors and thickening agents
- Test syrup pH and specific gravity to ensure batch consistency
- Cool syrup rapidly to lock in color and consistency
- Filter syrup through screens to remove any particulates
- Bottle flavored syrup into high-density plastic gallon jugs
- Label containers and ship to Sonic franchises for use
This process allows Sonic to efficiently produce large volumes of cherry syrup with customized equipment. The bottling plants supply over 4,000 Sonic drive-ins across the country with the signature syrup. Consistent safety protocols and quality testing ensure every batch achieves the desired sweet and tart cherry taste profile.
How Sonic’s Drive-Ins Use the Cherry Syrup
Sonic’s famous cherry syrup flows from the proprietary bottles into many different frozen and soft drink treats. Drive-in crews use the syrup in several ways:
- Soft Drinks – A squirt of cherry syrup is added to fountain drinks like Cherry Coke or Cherry Dr Pepper
- Limeades – Cherry syrup is combined with lime juice and soda water, such as in Cherry Limeades
- Milkshakes – Syrup is blended into creamy ice cream for cherry-flavored shakes
- Slushes – It is mixed with ice to create frozen cherry slushies like Cherry Blasts
- Sonic Freezes – Cherry syrup provides signature flavoring for treats like the Cherry Sonic Freeze
The versatility of the syrup allows Sonic crews to incorporate that distinctive cherry taste into many menu items. Customers can enjoy Sonic’s cherry flavors in drinks or soft serve desserts thanks to the proprietary bottled syrup.
Nutritional Information on Sonic’s Cherry Syrup
While Sonic’s signature cherry syrup provides a burst of sweet cherry flavor, it does come at a nutritional cost. The syrup concentrate is high in sugars and contains artificial colors and preservatives. Here is the nutritional information for Sonic’s cherry syrup per typical 1 tablespoon (15ml) serving:
| Nutrition Facts | 1 tbsp (15ml) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 60 |
| Total Fat | 0g |
| Sodium | 15mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 15g |
| Sugars | 15g |
As the table shows, a single serving of the syrup delivers 60 calories, no fat, 15mg sodium, 15g total carbohydrates, and 15g of sugars. The American Heart Association recommends limiting added sugar intake to no more than 25g per day for women and 38g per day for men. Just a couple servings of Sonic’s syrup can provide more than half of this daily amount.
For most people, enjoying Sonic frozen treats or drinks made with cherry syrup only occasionally poses little cause for concern. However, those watching their sugar and sodium intake may want to ask for light syrup or skip it altogether. Kids and diabetics should also use caution with menu items made with the syrup to limit effects on health.
Consumer Reviews of Sonic’s Cherry Syrup Flavors
While Sonic’s cherry syrup nutrition profile may not be ideal, customers agree the proprietary syrup recipe delivers unmatched cherry-flavored treats. Here are some online reviews highlighting consumer opinions on the taste of Sonic menu items featuring cherry syrup:
Cherry Limeade Reviews
- “The Cherry Limeade is my go-to drink. The combination of tart lime and sweet cherry flavors is so refreshing!”
- “That syrup they use in the limeade is amazing. It tastes like real cherries rather than fake syrup.”
- “The sweet cherry balances the sour limes perfectly. It’s my ideal summer drink.”
Cherry Blast Reviews
- “I love how the Cherry Blast slushie captures the cherry syrup’s flavor. It’s sweet candy-like cherries.”
- “The Cherry Blast is my favorite slushie ever – it’s the sweet cherry taste I crave on a hot day.”
- “So refreshing! The syrup makes it the perfect level of sweetness.”
Cherry Sonic Freeze Reviews
- “The Sonic Freeze machine perfectly blends the cherry syrup into the soft serve. It tastes like you’re eating cherry ice cream!”
- “That syrup takes it over the top. The freeze tastes just like a cherry popsicle.”
- “Delicious frozen cherry goodness! It’s sweet and creamy thanks to that signature syrup.”
These reviews make it clear Sonic customers agree – the proprietary cherry syrup recipe creates sweet cherry flavor that enhances any frozen or soft drink treat. The syrup achieves the right balance of natural cherry taste with sugary sweetness.
Alternatives for Customers Wishing to Reduce Sugar
While most Sonic patrons rave about the flavor of menu items made with cherry syrup, some customers wish to enjoy the cherry taste without excess sugar or artificial additives. Here are a few tips for ordering cherry treats from Sonic with reduced sugar and preservatives:
- Request light syrup or no syrup in soft drinks and limeades
- Opt for low-fat or sugar-free ice cream in shakes and freezes
- Ask for cherry flavor as a sugar-free shot or spray topping
- Substitute cherry syrup with pureed cherry or strawberry
- Customize drinks with extra lime or lemon juice for tartness instead of syrup
The crew at your local Sonic drive-in can also suggest low-calorie cherry customize options. With some simple modifications, customers can still enjoy the refreshing taste of cherry in their Sonic beverages and ice creams, without excess sugars or preservatives from the signature syrup.
Conclusion
Sonic drive-in’s proprietary secret recipe for cherry syrup has been key to providing its signature sweet and tart cherry flavors since the chain began in 1953. Produced in select bottling plants to exacting specifications, the syrup contains natural and artificial flavorings, corn syrup, citric acid, red dye, and preservatives blended uniquely to create Sonic’s one-of-a-kind cherry taste profile. The syrup is used to flavor frozen drinks and desserts like Cherry Limeades, Cherry Sonic Freezes, and cherry-flavored soft drinks that customers crave. While the nutrition content is high in sugars, the irresistible cherry taste keeps fans coming back. Customers looking to reduce syrup sugars can customize their orders to enjoy Sonic’s cherry treats in moderation as part of a balanced diet.