AND HOW TO USE IT

So you just got back from the store where you stocked up on the spirits and ingredients that you needed for your cocktail party, you start to surf the internet in search for recipe ideas and you get struck with horror as soon as you realize that the one drink that you always wanted to try calls for simple syrup.

It is possible that you had never heard of simple syrup until today, and even that a quick Google search showed you that you could have got a 700ml bottle at the store for little over $5 or so. Don’t worry though, it is getting cold out there and there is no need to rush anywhere, keep reading because we have you covered.

What is Simple Syrup and Why Do You Need It?

In the world of cocktails, simple or sugar syrup is essentially liquid sweetener. Many cocktails rely on it for a truly balanced result, either to counter the acidity from a citrus juice or simply to cater to a sweeter palate.

Instinct would tell us to just add sugar to our cocktail, but unfortunately sugar does not dilute well in cold cocktails and grains of sand at the bottom of your glass are neither tasty nor sexy. If you have ever had a not too well mixed Mojito you know exactly what I mean.

Luckily for you, simple syrup can be easily made at home, and in fact once you have learnt how to, I doubt that you will worry about buying it ever again … here, we have just saved you your first $5.

Ingredients & Instructions

The instructions are very simple and they follow a few easy steps. To make 1 litre of traditional simple syrup you just need to keep to the 1:1 ratio of water to sugar, and you will need:

• 500ml Water

• 500g Regular Sugar

• Medium Sauce Pan

• Hob

• A 1 litre empty glass bottle for your syrup

Once you’ve got everything just follow these 4 easy steps:

1. Pour the water into a sauce pan and add the sugar

2. Bring to a low heat - being careful to not boil or overheat

3. Stir gently until the sugar has dissolved

4. Let the syrup cool and then pour into your empty glass bottle.

How Long Does Sugar Syrup Last?

Keep your bottle in the fridge and your simple syrup will last for about a month. that should be about the right time to get you through a few weekends of great cocktails with your friends.

If you are afraid that this is too much for you however, you have a few options open to you:

The first and obvious one is to simply prepare the amount that you are likely to use and then just scale back on the ingredients without loosing the 1:1 ratio.

If you still prefer to prepare larger batches, then just add one table spoon of vodka to your 1:1 simple syrup and as if by magic you have just increased the life span of your syrup to a full 3 months.

Alternatively, you can prepare a rich simple syrup by changing to a 2:1 ratio. To do this double the quantity of sugar relative to the water, so for 1 litre mix 666grams of sugar with 333ml of water. You will see that the higher sugar concentration makes for a more dense product, which will keep for up to six months in the fridge before it starts to go cloudy and you need to throw it out. Be careful when including in into your recipe and add only half a measure if the cocktail calls for traditional 1:1 simple syrup.

Flavoured Sugar Syrup

Once you feel comfortable making simple syrup, you may also become more adventurous and start to play around with different flavours that will provide you with a world of opportunities for your cocktails.

You may want to start with some of the more traditional options, like adding lemon or orange zest to you mixture allowing it to infuse into your syrup as it simmers on the low heat. You can control how much flavour you would like to add to the syrup by keeping the zests longer or shorter, but remember to remove them before bottling.

Vanilla, mint or basil are some other great flavour infusions that you may want to try, and since sugar and water are not expensive do not be afraid of experimenting and even try infusing two or more distinct flavours to make your own blend.

Looking for a bit of inspiration? Check out the botanicals that have guided us in making 9diDANTE Inferno and see how they drive your creativity.

Using your Simple Syrup

Armed with your new bottle of simple syrup,you are now ready to take on some of the great classic cocktails, like a Daiquiri, an Old Fashioned or a Mint Julep. You will not however find many vermouth cocktails that call for it, as the sweet side of the red vermouth will usually cover that part of the cocktail in a Negroni or a Manhattan.

I am sure that if you enjoy a challenge you will really enjoy trying your hand at this amazing Kalimotxo recipe by Dan Nevsky @Cocktailman, where he mixes in a nut infused Coca Cola reduction with Bourbon and 9diDANTE to elevate a Spanish street classic into the realm of the high cocktail world.

For a wide range of vermouth cocktails make sure to check out our recipe guide here.