When building a cocktail, you’ll need a variety of ingredients: spirit, citrus, bitters, and sweetness. Sweetness can come from the spirit itself, liqueurs, citrus, and even sugar (even in cube form, like in the classic Old Fashioned). Syrups are used to add sweetness, but also to impart additional flavour and depth to your cocktail.

What are Syrups?

Syrups are, in essence, concentrated solutions of sugar that have been infused with various flavors, herbs, or spices. While they may seem simple at first glance, cocktail syrups have the power to elevate your concoctions into delicious and well-balanced cocktails.

Not all cocktails need a sugar component, but many cocktails require sweetness for balance, flavour-enhancement, and to add texture. Liquid sweeteners like simple syrup, agave, and honey add viscosity to the cocktail resulting in improved mouthfeel and body. 

How to Use Syrups

Sweetening Cocktails

The primary function of cocktail syrups is to add sweetness to your drinks. Whether you're making a margarita, a daiquiri, or an old fashioned, syrups like simple, honey, or agave are essential for achieving the perfect balance.

Infusing Flavor

Syrups can be used to impart different flavors. Syrups can add a burst of freshness and complexity to your cocktails without needing to add extra alcohol.

Enhancing Mocktails

Cocktail syrups are not just for alcoholic beverages. You can also use them to elevate your mocktails by adding depth and flavor without the alcohol, or add them to a glass of club soda or lemonade for some extra flavour.

Types of Syrups

There’s a wide variety of syrups out there, and each type works well with different cocktails.

Fruit Syrups

The most common syrups are fruit-based or fruit-flavoured syrups. All Born to Shake syrups are made from whole ingredients, like delicious Okanagan cherries, juicy watermelons, and farm-fresh raspberries. Fruit syrups are an excellent way to infuse or enhance fruit flavours in your cocktails, like our Warmelon Paloma.

Floral Syrups

Floral syrups are made of (you guessed it!) flowers. They impart a delicious floral flavour into the cocktails they're mixed in, and go really well with a wide variety of spirits. We love our floral syrups with gin and vodka drinks - like a Lavender Lemonade, our Gimme the Tea, or our Babe & Tonic. 

How to Make Simple Syrup at Home

To make a simple syrup, you should start by deciding whether you prefer a 1:1 ratio or a 2:1. The latter will add more texture, while one part sugar, one part water may dilute your drink a bit more. If a cocktail recipe calls for a measurement of simple syrup using the 1:1 ratio, please note that if you’re using a 2:1 ratio to use half of that amount.

Simply add a cup of water into a saucepan together with one cup of sugar. Keep stirring on a low heat until the sugar has dissolved. If you want to use a 2:1 ratio, add the second cup of sugar once the first has dissolved. Do not let the liquid boil. Remove from heat and allow to fully cool before pouring into a sterilized container. Store in the fridge.

Syrups are a versatile and essential ingredient in cocktails for sweetness and flavour. Check out our recipes for inspo, or experiment away!. Shop our selection of syrups here.