Our Story

Brand Story

Alley Twenty Six Cocktail Syrups was born out of the James Beard Outstanding Bar Program Finalist Alley Twenty Six Restaurant and Bar - the first nominee ever from North Carolina.

Launched in 2015 with a single product - tonic syrup - the brand catered to mainly other bars and restaurants. During the pandemic, founder Shannon Healy and his team expanded the line to include a variety of cocktail syrups flavors and began retailing to loyal customers from the restaurant. Alley Twenty Six Cocktail Syrups is rooted in the philosophy that the best ingredients make the best cocktails whether you are drinking at your favorite bar or at home.

About the Founder

Shannon Healy has 30 years of bartending and craft cocktail experience. For 10 years, Healy was the general manager of the James Beard Award-winning restaurant Crook’s Corner in Chapel Hill, N.C. During his time at Crook’s, Healy curated a beverage program designed to complement the restaurant’s farm-to-fork cuisine. In 2012, Healy brought his farm-to-sip approach to downtown Durham, opening Alley Twenty Six as a neighborhood craft cocktail bar. His team sources seasonal, local ingredients from N.C. Piedmont farms whenever possible to make fresh syrups, shrubs, tinctures and mixers. The weekly rotating cocktail menu combines Healy’s dedication to cocktail culture and its history as well as his inventive approach in creating new libations. In 2017, Healy expanded into the space next door to add a full kitchen and restaurant.