Rich Simple Syrup

Equivalency: one sugar cube = 1 tsp sugar = ~ 1/4 oz simple syrup (mixed 1:1)

Basic simple syrup is made from 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water.

Rich syrups have two advantages: first, you can get away with using less of per drink, which gives your cocktail its necessary sweetness but reduces the volume of water per cocktail. The second advantage is that rich syrup lasts longer in a refrigerator before spoiling. The reason is, the sugar acts as a preservative.

2 cups sugar
1 cup water

Place the sugar and water into a small saucepan over high heat. Bring to a boil. Decrease the heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is completely dissolved, approximately 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the saucepan and allow to cool completely. Syrup can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a month.

Alternatively, you can add the sugar to the water in a jar and shake it every so often until the sugar becomes dissolved in the water.

To prolong the shelf life of your simple syrup, add a little vodka - usually between a tablespoon and an ounce, depending on how large the batch of syrup is.

Yield: 3 cups

For a more flavorful syrup, consider using a raw, brown sugar such as turbinado, demerara, or muscovado. These sugars maintain more of a molasses character than white sugar and are thus richer in flavor. They pair especially well with cocktails made with brown spirits such as whiskey, brandy, and some rums and tequilas.

You can make these by shaking, but the larger grain of these sugars means they take longer to reach solution in water. It's really best to heat these syrups.

Feel free to play with ratios—1:1, 1.5:1, 2:1. Again, the thicker the syrup, the less you'll need. Prepare them the same way as white syrup: Add sugar and water to a small pan. Turn heat to medium and stir. The sugar will dissolve quickly after the water heats up. Remove from heat, allow to cool, and bottle.