How to Make Simple Syrup for Cocktails (Plus Honey, Ginger and More)

Simple syrup is equal parts sugar and water, stirred until the sugar dissolves. That's the whole recipe. It's in a huge number of cocktails because plain sugar doesn't dissolve well in cold drinks, but syrup mixes in instantly.

It takes about five minutes to make, and it costs almost nothing.

Simple Syrup Recipe (1:1)

Ingredients

• 1 cup (200 g) white sugar
• 1 cup (240 ml) water

Method

1. Add the sugar and water to a small pot.
2. Warm over low to medium heat, stirring, until the sugar fully dissolves. You don't need to boil it.
3. Turn off the heat and let it cool.
4. Pour into a clean bottle or jar, close it and store in the fridge.

No-heat method: shake the sugar and water hard in a closed jar for a minute or two. Let it sit, then shake again. It takes a little longer but works fine.

Tip: for the most exact result, weigh the sugar and water instead of using cups.

Rich Simple Syrup (2:1)

Rich syrup uses two parts sugar to one part water. It's sweeter and thicker, so you use less of it. It also keeps longer in the fridge.

• 2 cups (400 g) sugar
• 1 cup (240 ml) water

Make it the same way. Gentle heat helps a lot here, because the sugar dissolves more slowly.

Swapping: 10 ml of rich syrup is roughly the same sweetness as 15 ml of 1:1 syrup. Rich syrup is great in stirred drinks like the Old Fashioned, where you don't want extra water.

How Long Does Simple Syrup Last?

Kept in a clean, sealed bottle in the fridge:

• 1:1 syrup: about 2 to 4 weeks
• 2:1 rich syrup: about 1 to 2 months

Throw it out if it looks cloudy or you see anything growing. Adding a small splash (about 15 ml) of vodka can help it last a bit longer.

Easy Syrup Variations

Honey Syrup

Honey is too thick to mix into cold drinks, so thin it out.

• 2 parts honey + 1 part warm water, stirred until smooth.

Use it in the Bee's Knees and Penicillin.

Ginger Syrup

• 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water and a thumb-sized piece of fresh ginger, sliced.
• Simmer gently for 15 minutes, cool, then strain.

Spicy and warm. Try it in a whiskey sour or with rum and lime.

Demerara Syrup

Use demerara or raw cane sugar in place of white sugar. It adds caramel and molasses notes. Great in rum and whiskey drinks.

Cinnamon Syrup

Add 2 cinnamon sticks to your 1:1 syrup while it warms, then let it steep as it cools. A tiki bar favorite.

Herb Syrups

Pour hot 1:1 syrup over a handful of fresh mint, rosemary or basil. Steep for 20 minutes and strain.

Agave Syrup

Store-bought agave syrup is already liquid. Thin it with a little water (2 parts agave, 1 part water) for easier mixing. Great with tequila, like in a Tommy's Margarita.

Cocktails That Use Simple Syrup

• Daiquiri: rum, lime, sugar
• Whiskey Sour: bourbon, lemon, syrup
• Tom Collins: gin, lemon, syrup, soda
• French 75: gin, lemon, syrup, Champagne
• Mojito: rum, lime, sugar, mint, soda

Simple Syrup FAQ

Is simple syrup the same as sugar syrup? Yes. Recipes may call it simple syrup, sugar syrup or gomme. They're basically the same thing.

Can I use brown sugar? Yes. It gives a richer, caramel taste. It works best with dark spirits.

Can I make sugar-free simple syrup? You can use some sugar substitutes, but they may taste different and won't give the same body. Test small amounts first.

Do I need to boil it? No. Warm water just helps the sugar dissolve faster.

Keep Mixing

With syrup in the fridge, you're ready for most of our easy cocktails to make at home.

Want to know which drinks you'll enjoy most? Mixlio builds your taste profile and matches you with cocktails at home and at the bar.