Name: How to Make Simple Syrup
Prep time: 2 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 7 min
Ingredients: 1 cup sugar; 1 cup water

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Learn all you need to know for how to make simple syrup for cocktails! An essential for any bar, simply syrup is easy to make. You can even make flavored simple syrup. Use your simple syrup in all sorts of great cocktails like this Wine and Whiskey Cocktail, this Cinnamon Sangria , or this Grapefruit Champagne Cocktail.

There are so many great cocktail recipes out there that require simple syrup – you might be tempted to buy it. But don’t! It is so easy to make, and much less expensive to make at home than go out and buy.

HOW DO YOU MAKE SIMPLE SYRUP

Making simple syrup requires boiling equal parts sugar and water. Though there are some versions that do a 2 to 1 ratio of sugar to water, we stick with the 1 to 1 ratio for our cocktails.

There is a method of making simple syrup that requires just shaking the sugar in the water until it dissolves, but we will stick with the boiling method.

Start with one cup of sugar.

Add in one cup of water.

Mix together over low heat.

Bring to a boil and continue to cook until the sugar is completely dissolved, and the liquid has slightly thickened.

Remove the simple syrup from the heat, allow to cool, and use in all your cocktails.

HOW DO YOU MAKE FLAVORED SIMPLE SYRUP?

Flavored simple syrup is a great way to add something special to a cocktail. What about a rosemary twist on your gin and tonic? Or a basil twist to your vodka lemonade? It is simple and easy to do.

Make the simple syrup as you normally would, and then just when you are done and removing the syrup from the heat, add whatever flavor you want (basil leaves, a sprig of rosemary, lemon peel, a cinnamon stick). We like to remove the basil, the lemon peel, or the cinnamon stick before making our cocktails, but that is up to you.

HOW DO YOU STORE SIMPLE SYRUP?

Simple syrup has a good shelf life. Simple syrup that is a one to one ratio (as is described here) has a one month shelf life if stored in a clean airtight container in the refrigerator. Syrup that is a 2 to 1 ratio has a six week shelf life if stored in a clean airtight container in the refrigerator.

WHAT CAN I USE SIMPLE SYRUP IN?
There are so many great cocktails out there that use simple syrup. Start with these ones:

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