Simple Syrup
Simple Syrup is the basis of a lot of other cocktail syrups and a standard ingredient in a lot of cocktail recipes or many different styles. If you're making cocktails at home (or at a bar, anywhere really), you need a ready supply of Simple Syrup. The recipe below is actually for what a lot of people call Rich Simple Syrup (two parts sugar to one part water), while a lot of people will say standard Simple Syrup is actually one part sugar to one part water. We here at What Cocktail Can I Make prefer the Rich Simple recipe as it won't go bad when sitting in a cupboard for awhile (there's so much sugar in there that microbes can't live in it). This may mean that you'll find some of recipes a little sweet, but anything involving Simple Syrup should be adjusted to taste anyway.So we suggest going with the two part sugar option and always adjusting cocktail recipes to suit your taste.
Ingredients
- 2 parts White Sugar by volume.
- 1 part Water by volume.
Instructions
- Pour the sugar and the water into a pot and slowly bring to a boil, stiring constantly to ensure the sugar fully disolves.
- Let boil for about a minute.
- Allow to cool.
- Pour into a steralised bottle*.
Notes
*A note on sterilising bottles: it's important to ensure that the bottles you use are very clean to avoid contamination of your syrups. There are a few options here whether you want to boil the bottle (be careful!) or put them through a dishwasher. Some may use high proof spirit to sterilise but this may not do the job, however you should be able to find pure food safe alcohol or steriliser at home brew supply stores if that's your thing.
As mentioned, the two to one ratio for this recipe will last longer than the standard one to one, but feel free to do either, whatever works for you.
If you store your Simple Syrup for too long you may start to see some crystallisation in the bottle over time. This isn't a problem. You can wash it out later.