Simple Syrup
Simple syrup is exactly how it sounds… simple. Just sugar and water., in equal parts or to your own taste. But it is also essential to many cocktails to add sweetness without compromising flavor. Though keep in mind that all of our recipes on this site are based on the one to one ratio.
Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
Directions
Heat water to boiling however you choose, either by sauce pan or kettle
Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 cup sugar
Stir to dissolve the sugar
Cool in the fridge before using
Tips and Tricks:
We typically use regular white caster sugar, however brown sugar and Demerara sugar (also called sugar in the raw) can also be used. Demerara simple syrup is great to use in bourbon or whiskey drinks because it has a slightly caramel flavor that pairs well with those spirits, but it also won’t muddy the color like it does in clear spirit cocktails.
Some recipes will tell you to make this syrup of the stove top. You certainly can put it’s not worth the effort and you can actually burn the sugar or get caramel if you’re not careful.
There are also quick dissolve sugars which can be used when you don’t have the time to wait for the syrup to cool, or you don’t want to make a whole a batch of syrup. With the quick dissolve sugar, use the same one to one ratio and either add both ingredients directly to the shaker with the other ingredients, or combine the two before mixing. Either way it’s a great alternative.