5 Essential Cocktail Syrups to Make at Home (and How to Use Them)

Crafting cocktails and mocktails at home is all about balance, flavor, and creativity. One of the best ways to elevate your drink-making game is by using homemade syrups. Not only do they add depth and complexity, but they also allow you to control the sweetness and quality of ingredients. Here are five essential syrups to make at home, along with cocktail and mocktail ideas to put them to good use from ESSENTIALS: Cocktails.

 

1. Orgeat

A staple in tiki drinks, orgeat is an almond-based syrup with hints of orange blossom or rose water, adding a nutty, floral complexity to cocktails.

 

How to Make It:
Ingredients:

• 2 cups blanched almonds
• 1 cup Demerara syrup
  
• 1 tsp orange blossom water
• 2 oz vodka (optional, as a preservative)

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400F. Place 2 cups almonds on a baking sheet, place them in the oven, and toast until they are fragrant, about 5 minutes. Remove the almonds from the oven and let them cool completely. Place the almonds in a food processor and pulse until they are a coarse meal. Set the almonds aside. Place 1 cup Demerara Syrup in a saucepan and warm it over medium heat. Add the almond meal, remove the pan from heat, and let the mixture steep for 6 hours. Strain the mixture through cheesecloth and discard the solids. Stir in 1 teaspoon orange blossom water and 2 oz. vodka and use immediately or store in the refrigerator.

 

 Cocktail: Mai Tai

• 2 oz aged rum
  
• 3/4 oz curaçao
• 3/4 oz orgeat
• 1/2 oz lime juice
  
• Shake and serve over crushed ice, garnished with mint and lime.

 

Mocktail: Almond Cooler

• 1 oz orgeat syrup
• 1/2 oz lime juice
• 3 oz sparkling water
• Serve over ice with a lime wheel.

 

2. Honey-Ginger Syrup

This spicy and aromatic syrup adds warmth and zest to cocktails and mocktails alike.

 

How to Make It:
Ingredients:

• 2-in slice ginger
• 1 cup honey
• 1 cup water

Directions:

Place 1 cup water, 1 cup honey, and a chopped 2-inch piece of fresh ginger in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Cook for 4 minutes, remove the pan from heat, and let the syrup cool completely. Strain before using or storing.

 

Cocktail: Penicillin

• 2 oz blended Scotch whiskey
• 3/4 oz honey-ginger syrup
• 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 oz smoky Islay single-malt Scotch whiskey, to float
• Place the syrup, blended Scotch, and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker, fill with ice, and shake until chilled. Strain over ice into a rocks glass. Float the single-malt Scotch on top by pouring it slowly over the back of a spoon and enjoy.

 

Mocktail: Spiced Lemonade

• 1 oz honey-ginger syrup
• 1/2 oz lemon juice
• 4 oz club soda
• Serve over ice with a lemon slice.

 

3. Raspberry Syrup

This vibrant syrup brings a fruity and slightly tart sweetness to drinks.

 

How to Make It:
Ingredients:

• 1 lb fresh or frozen raspberries
• 1 lb sugar
• 2 cups water

Directions:

Combine 1 lb. raspberries and 1 lb. sugar in a deep saucepan, then gently press down the mixture with the back of a fork. Let it macerate for 15 minutes, then add 2 cups water. Bring the mixture to just below a boil. Remove the pan from heat and let the syrup cool for 30 minutes. Strain the syrup through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth before using or storing in the refrigerator.

 

Cocktail: Clover Club

• 1 oz London dry gin
• 1/2 oz dry vermouth
• 1/2 oz raspberry syrup
• 1/2 oz lemon juice
• 1/2 oz egg white
• Dry shake, then shake with ice and strain into a coupe and garnish with 3 raspberries.

 

Mocktail: Berry Spritz

• 1 oz raspberry syrup
• 1/2 oz lemon juice
• 3 oz sparkling water
• Serve over ice with fresh raspberries.

 

4. Ginger Beer

A concentrated ginger syrup that, when combined with sparkling water, mimics the fiery kick of ginger beer.

 

How to Make It:
Ingredients:

• 1 lb fresh ginger, grated
• 4 oz brown sugar
• 1 gallon water
  
• 2 oz fresh lime juice

Directions:

Place 1 gallon water in a large pot and bring to a boil. Add 1 cup of the boiling water to a food processor along with 1 lb. ginger. Blitz until the mixture is almost mulch-like. Place the ginger mixture in the boiling water, turn off the heat, and stir until well combined. Cover the pot and let the mixture steep for 1 hour. Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing down on the ginger to extract as much liquid and flavor from it as possible. Stir in 4 oz. brown sugar and 2 oz. fresh lime juice and let the ginger beer cool before carbonating and storing in the refrigerator.

 

Cocktail: Gin-Gin Mule

• 3/4 oz fresh lime juice
• 1 oz simple syrup
• 1 spring of fresh mint
• 1 oz homemade ginger beer
• 1 1/2 oz London dry gin
• Serve over ice in a copper mug with a lime wedge.

 

Mocktail: Virgin Mule

• 1 oz ginger beer syrup
• 1/2 oz lime juice
• 3 oz sparkling water
• Serve over ice with a lime wedge.

 

5. Sweet & Sour Syrup

A versatile mix of sugar and citrus juice, sweet & sour syrup is a must-have for a variety of drinks.

 

How to Make It:
Ingredients:

• 6 oz Demerara syrup
• 2 oz fresh lemon juice
• 4 oz fresh lime juice

Directions:

Place 2 oz. fresh lemon juice, 4 oz. fresh lime juice, and 6 oz. Demerara Syrup in a mason jar, seal it, and shake until combined. Use immediately or store in the refrigerator.

 

Cocktail: Blue Hawaiian

• 3/4 oz vodka
• 3/4 oz Pusser’s Rum
• 1/2 oz blue curaçao
• 3 oz pineapple juice
• 1 oz sweet & sour syrup
• 1/2 cup ice
• Place all of the ingredients, except for the garnishes, in a blender and puree until smooth. Pour the cocktail into a Hurricane glass, garnish with the dehydrated pineapple slice and pineapple leaves, and enjoy. 

Mocktail: Citrus Fizz

• 1 oz sweet & sour syrup
• 3 oz club soda
• Serve over ice with a lemon wheel.

 

Making these syrups at home is an easy and rewarding way to add freshness and flair to your drinks. Whether you're crafting a classic cocktail or a refreshing mocktail, these syrups will ensure every sip is full of flavor. For more homemade syrups and delicious drinks, check out ESSENTIALS: Cocktails.