Simple syrup

Simple syrup is a regular sugar syrup used to sweeten cocktails. The main reason why we use syrup instead of regular sugar is that it is much easier to dissolve syrup than regular sugar. Especially as almost all cocktails are served cold, it can be very difficult to dissolve regular sugar. Another reason why, is that it is easier to get the measurements correct every time. 2 cl. of simple syrup is a lot easier to handle and use in cocktail making than 3,5 teaspoons of regular sugar. Simple syrup can be bought in most supermarkets and liquor stores, but it is often quite expensive, and it is definitely overpriced compared to how easy and cheap it is to make it yourself. As the name suggests, it is very simple to make at home. All you need is sugar, water, a casserole, and a stove or other heat source. The measurements for one batch of simple syrup is:

• 1 dl. water
• 175 grams of sugar

All you have to do is to combine the two ingredients in the casserole and bring it up to temperature. Make sure to stir the mixture once in a while to make sure nothing burns. Once the mixture is up to temperature and the sugar is dissolved, pour the syrup to a scalded bottle to make sure it lasts the longest. This is a 1:1 simple syrup. You can also make an inverted simple syrup, which is exactly the same, but with 2 parts of sugar, 1 part of water. However, most of the cocktails we present will use the measurements for 1:1 simple syrup.

Simple syrup can last for a long time as long as it’s kept refrigerated. If and when your syrup goes bad, you will know, as it forms white mould that floats on top. Rinsing your bottles in boiling water or sodium benzoate (Atamon) helps preserve the syrups. You should expect your simple syrup to be good for about 3-6 months, but if you see no white mould after 6+ months, it’s still good to use.