A crucial ingredient in many cocktails, simple syrup (or sugar syrup as its also known) is really easy to make.

Don’t blow $20 on a bottle at your local Bottle-O… Let us show you how!

Ingredients

• 1 – 2 parts sugar (1 – 2 cups)
• 1 part water (1 cup)

Method

Bring a saucepan to medium-high heat.

Add 1 part water.

Add 1 part sugar.

Bring to boil and stir until sugar is dissolved and the mixture is clear then turn it down low.

Add more sugar if you wish to thicken it more.

If you wish to flavour your syrup, add your desired flavour and let it infuse for 10-15 mins, stirring gently.

Allow to cool, strain and store in a firmly sealed container, jar or bottle in the fridge where it will keep for a few weeks.

Note: This should all take between 5 – 20 minutes.

Tips

• Don’t expect the syrup to be as thick as maple syrup or honey. Instead, it should be thin and easy to pour; more of a consistency similar to a liqueur.
• To prolong the shelf life, add a little gin or vodka. Usually between a tablespoon and an ounce is enough, depending on how large the batch of syrup is.

Recipe Variations

Replacing white sugar with raw sugar has an even richer flavour. The drawback to using this light brown sugar is that it will alter the colour of your cocktails slightly, but the taste makes up for it.

You can also use brown sugar, coconut sugar, or palm sugar.

If you are a fan of stevia or other alternatives to sugar, feel free to use those to make a simple syrup. They work well, but there is a slight flavour difference which you’re probably used to if you use them regularly.

Always begin with a small batch of 1:1 simple syrup and see how you like it and make any adjustments from there.

Flavoured Simple Syrup Inspo

Simple syrup can also be infused with flavour and used in a variety of drinks to add a unique twist. Check out these suggestions:

• Homemade Grenadine, a pomegranate-flavoured simple syrup
• Sour Syrup with lemon and lime – use the juice and the rind, or pineapple, again you can use
• Fruity Syrup with orange, lemon, lime, mango, raspberry, fig, kiwi or strawberry
• Spiced syrups like cardamom, ginger, star anise or cinnamon
• Floral syrup with lavender or rosewater
• Bold syrups like coffee, chilli, chocolate or vanilla

What else can you use Simple Syrup for?

Have you ever made lemonade that requires the sugar to be stirred in until it’s dissolved? Or tried to sweeten a cold drink with sugar? It always seems to take a hot minute to get it all to come together and dissolve that sugar!

Making a simple syrup not only quickly sweetens your lemonades and cold drinks. Why should you have a bottle of plain or flavoured simple syrups waiting for you in your fridge?
Use it in:

• Iced tea or coffee
• Pouring over cake and desserts
• Mixing up your own flavoured sparkling drinks – hello SodaStream!
• Use as a quick glaze for meats, fish or poultry
• Pour over pancakes and waffles
• Or even to help make that medicine go down (thanks Mary Poppins)