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Simple Syrup for Cocktails
As the name states, simple syrup is pretty simple. However, it is a very important part of cocktails, and without a standard, many cocktails can become cloyingly sweet or overly sour. In the Mixologist: The Journal of the American Cocktail I wrote an in-depth article on how to make simple syrup and some background information the types of sugar you can use. In this post I'm going to provide you with a couple of recipes to get you started, but if you would like more information, please feel free to pick up a copy of Mixologist.
The basics formulas for simple syrup are 1:1 and 2:1 sugar to water. The most common syrup is the 2:1 formula, which is pretty much standard for most cocktails. To make this, simply add 2 cups of sugar and 1 cup water to a pot and gently heat until all of the sugar is dissolved. Pour the syrup into a clean bottle and it's ready to use.
A couple of suggestions that will make your simple syrup better include adding 1/4 cup of corn syrup to the mixture. This will help prevent crystallization of the sugar, since it is a super saturated solution. The other suggestion is to add one or two ounces of vodka or neutral grain spirit to the simple syrup after it has been bottles. This will help prevent mold or bacteria from growing.
If you want to try something different, you can try adding a portion of fructose (available at your local health food store) to your simple syrup recipe. Fructose is a fruit sugar and is the most common sugar found in fruits like peaches, pears, berries, etc.
My personal favorite simple syrup is one that makes 1 teaspoon of simple syrup equal 1 teaspoon of sugar. That way I know how much sugar is going into each drink, and if a recipe calls for sugar, I can pour the exact amount. The rough ratio for this solution is four parts sugar to three parts water.
94 Comments on Simple Syrup for Cocktails
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Nice site. Just found it.
One thing you might want to check out is Sonoma Syrup from California. They bottle the simple syrup, and flavored syrups. I use the simple type in my Margaritas.
Adding fructose or corn syrup is a bit pointless IF you add 1/4 teaspoon of cream of tartar to the mixture and boil it longer. That little bit of acidity breaks the molecular bond in sucrose and you get glucose and fructose as products. The resulting syrup keeps much longer even without refrigeration, won't crystalize, and is about 20% sweeter.
I just made some with turbinado (raw) sugar, using the 4:3 ratio and the cream of tartar trick, just bringing it to a boil. It came out a pale golden color, like weak maple syrup. Raw sugar has a little of molasses left in it, so it has a slightly rich taste. Not sure of the effect in drinks yet. I'll try it in a Cosmo this evening...
Thanks for the extra information on simple syrup. I've been using your recipe from Mixologist to make simple syrup and also as a base for some flavored syrups. Just read the subsequent article on sour mix which got me thinking...How about putting some maltodextrin into the simple syrup mix to enhance the mouth feel? I have some arabic gum I'm going to play with, but the maltodextrin sounds easier to work with.