Simple syrup is the most basic cocktail ingredient and an easy one to make at home. Simply put, it’s made of equal parts sugar dissolved in water.
Simple syrup is quintessential to many cocktails and once you’ve made a small batch at home, store it in the fridge and you can use it for up to 3 weeks.
There are two easy methods for making simple syrup. The first involves heat until the sugar has dissolved into the water. Don’t let it bubble away for some time as the water evaporates and you’ll end up with less than the 1: 1 ratio. This is the easiest and quickest method to make simple syrup.
The second method involves putting the sugar and water in a jar with a tight lid and shaking it until dissolved. You need elbow grease and it can take up to 5 minutes for the sugar to dissolve.
Rich simple syrup is the same but has a larger proportion of sugar to water. Once you’ve mastered how to make simple syrup, you can try making flavoured syrups such as lavender infused syrup but that’s for another time.
How to Make Simple Syrup
Ingredients
- 1 cup of white sugar
- 1 cup of water
Method 1
Add water and sugar in a saucepan over medium to high heat. Bring it to a boil and stir until the sugar is fully dissolved in the water. Allow to cool before using. Store in a sealed jar in the fridge. Keeps for up to 3 weeks.
Method 2
Combine water and sugar in a tight lidded jar and shake vigorously until dissolved.
