A vertical dispensing manifold for dispensing a beverage, the vertical dispensing manifold comprising: an input port for receiving a base liquid; a vertical shaft coupled to the input port; and a dispensing nozzle coupled to the vertical shaft for dispensing a combination of the base liquid and one or more ingredients; the vertical shaft comprising: a hollow interior defined by a sidewall of the vertical shaft, and a plurality of orifices for introducing ingredients into the hollow interior, where each orifice is formed in the sidewall of the vertical shaft and is in communication with the hollow interior of the vertical shaft, wherein the hollow interior of the vertical shaft defines a vertical flow path for a flow of the base liquid from the input port, through the vertical shaft to combine with one or more ingredients, and to the dispensing nozzle, characterized in that the vertical shaft is a modular vertical shaft comprising a plurality of modules releasably coupled together between the input port and the dispensing nozzle, thereby forming the vertical shaft, wherein each module comprises one or more of the plurality of orifices formed in a sidewall of the module, the sidewalls of shafts of the modules forming the vertical shaft defining the hollow interior. wherein the hollow interior of the vertical shaft defines a vertical flow path for a flow of the base liquid from the input port, through the vertical shaft to combine with one or more ingredients, and to the dispensing nozzle, > an input port for receiving a base liquid; a vertical shaft coupled to the input port; and a dispensing nozzle coupled to the vertical shaft for dispensing a combination of the base liquid and one or more ingredients; the vertical shaft comprising: a hollow interior defined by a sidewall of the vertical shaft, and a plurality of orifices for introducing ingredients into the hollow interior, where each orifice is formed in the sidewall of the vertical shaft and is in communication with the hollow interior of the vertical shaft, wherein the hollow interior of the vertical shaft defines a vertical flow path for a flow of the base liquid from the input port, through the vertical shaft to combine with one or more ingredients, and to the dispensing nozzle, characterized in that the vertical shaft is a modular vertical shaft comprising a plurality of modules releasably coupled together between the input port and the dispensing nozzle, thereby forming the vertical shaft, wherein each module comprises one or more of the plurality of orifices formed in a sidewall of the module, the sidewalls of shafts of the modules forming the vertical shaft defining the hollow interior. wherein the hollow interior of the vertical shaft defines a vertical flow path for a flow of the base liquid from the input port, through the vertical shaft to combine with one or more ingredients, and to the dispensing nozzle, > a hollow interior defined by a sidewall of the vertical shaft, and a plurality of orifices for introducing ingredients into the hollow interior, where each orifice is formed in the sidewall of the vertical shaft and is in communication with the hollow interior of the vertical shaft, wherein the hollow interior of the vertical shaft defines a vertical flow path for a flow of the base liquid from the input port, through the vertical shaft to combine with one or more ingredients, and to the dispensing nozzle, characterized in that the vertical shaft is a modular vertical shaft comprising a plurality of modules releasably coupled together between the input port and the dispensing nozzle, thereby forming the vertical shaft, wherein each module comprises one or more of the plurality of orifices formed in a sidewall of the module, the sidewalls of shafts of the modules forming the vertical shaft defining the hollow interior.