Syrups
Simple Syrup
- Syrup / Sweetener
- 0% ABV
- 140 drinks
What is Simple Syrup?
Simple syrup is a basic cocktail sweetener made from sugar and water. It dissolves easily into cold drinks and is used to balance citrus, soften strong spirits and add body to sours, fizzes, punches and mocktails.
Is this for me?
Choose this if…
- ✓You want to add sweetness and flavour depth to a drink.
Skip if…
- ✗You prefer dry, unsweetened cocktails.
At a Glance
Ingredient nutrition is approximate and varies by brand, recipe and preparation.
On this page
What does Simple Syrup taste like?
Clean, neutral sweetness with no strong aroma. Simple syrup is useful when a drink needs sweetness without adding fruit, spice, honey, maple or liqueur flavours.
Ways to use simple syrup
Simple syrup recipe: the 1:1 ratio
Standard simple syrup uses equal parts granulated sugar and water by volume. It is neutral, easy to measure and suited to most cocktails that call for simple syrup.
Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
Yield: About 1 1/2 cups
Method
- 1. Combine the sugar and water in a small saucepan.
- 2. Warm over medium-low heat, stirring until the sugar has completely dissolved. Do not boil for longer than needed.
- 3. Remove from the heat, cool completely, then transfer to a clean sealed bottle and refrigerate.
Simple syrup ratios
| Style | Sugar : water | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 1:1 by volume | The default for sours, highballs and most modern recipes |
| Rich | 2:1 by volume | Use less liquid when a drink needs concentrated sweetness and more body |
A recipe written for standard syrup will become sweeter if rich syrup is substituted measure for measure. Start with roughly half as much rich syrup, taste, then adjust.
Storage and signs to discard it
Let the syrup cool before sealing it, keep it refrigerated in a clean container and avoid dipping used utensils into the bottle. Discard it if you see mold, fermentation, unexpected cloudiness or notice an off smell. Homemade syrup has no universal shelf life because sanitation, concentration and added ingredients vary.
Cocktails that use simple syrup
Drink counts and recipe data are based on published WhatDrink recipes. Figures may vary as new recipes are added.
Simple Syrup — common questions
- What are the most popular cocktails made with Simple Syrup?
- Top-ranked cocktails made with Simple Syrup include Adios Amigos Cocktail, Amante Picante, Amaretto Rose. Rankings are based on recipe quality and data completeness.