Up Your Syrup Game - Bar Staples

Syrups are a key ingredient in many cocktails, helping to smooth out the base spirit and balance sour citrus juice.

It’s easy to make simple syrup at home with equal parts sugar and water (or 2-to-1 for a rich syrup), just simmer over a low flame to combine.

Flavored syrups add extra oomph and wow factor to your cocktails. But the most common brands are made with high fructose corn syrup and artificial flavoring.

Look for labels with sugar or cane sugar as the sweetener for a higher quality option.

Try one of these:



Grenadine, contrary to popular belief, is a pomegranate syrup, not cherry. It is a star ingredient in many rum based cocktails (Mary Pickford for instance) and does well when paired with gin or whiskey. Try Jack Rudy’s Small Batch Grenadine.

Gum Syrup is a basic sweetener made by adding gum arabic to a simple syrup. The "gomme" creates a heavier syrup, adding body and mouthfeel to a drink. Try Small Hand’s Gum Syrup.