Basil Simple Syrup

Ingredients You’ll Need

Simple syrup is a liquid sweetener made with equal parts sugar and water. It’s often used for sweetening drinks like cocktails and mocktails, and it’s made by simmering sugar and water until the sugar dissolves.

Infused simple syrups simmer the syrup with fruits or herbs to infuse other flavorings into the mixture. The ingredients you need for basil simple syrup are:

• Fresh basil leaves
• Granulated sugar: You can make simple syrup with other types of sugar, but granulated sugar is best here! Brown sugar or demerara sugar has a different flavor profile that would compete with the basil, and it is darker in color.
• Water

Tips for Making Basil Simple Syrup

Basil simple syrup is easy to whip up; all you need to know are the ingredient ratios and infusion time. Here’s what to know:

• Use equal parts water, sugar, and herbs. I used ½ cup of each in the recipe below, which makes about ¾ cup. For me, that’s plenty for a specialty ingredient, but double the batch for a larger quantity (like if you’re making a big pitcher of basil lemonade).
• Bring to a simmer, then remove the heat and steep for 30 minutes. A flavored simple syrup lets the herb or flavoring steep at room temperature in the warm syrup. You’ll be surprised at how much flavor is infused in just 30 minutes.
• Strain and refrigerate. Strain out the herbs and pour into a sealed storage container. That’s it!

Drinks to Make With It

This basil simple syrup has an intense, herby, fresh flavor. Take a sip, and your taste buds are instantly overwhelmed by the herbaceous pop! Use it to make craft cocktails, mocktails, or other drinks. Here are some ideas:

1. Mint Spritzer (Mocktail)

Pour soda water in a glass and stir in basil syrup to taste. Spritz with a lime wedge if you’d like.

2. Basil Lemonade

Mix 3 tablespoons lemon juice, 3 tablespoons basil syrup, and 1 cup water. Serve over ice! (Or make a pitcher: go to Basil Lemonade.)

3. Basil Gimlet

Combine 2 ounces of gin, ½ ounce of lime juice, and ½ ounce of basil simple syrup in a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice and shake until cold, then strain into a glass. (See Gin Gimlet for more.)

4. Basil Mojito

Combine 2 ounces of white rum, 1 ounce of lime juice, and 1 ½ ounces of basil simple syrup in a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice and shake until cold, then strain into a glass. Serve with ice and soda water. (See Mojito for more.)

5. Basil Collins

Add 2 ounces of gin, 1 ounce of lemon juice, and 1 ounce of basil simple syrup to a cocktail shaker with 4 ice cubes. Shake well until chilled. Strain into an ice-filled glass and top off with ½ cup soda water. Garnish with a lemon wheel and a cocktail cherry. (See Tom Collins for more.)

More Simple Syrup Recipes to Try

• Mint Simple Syrup
• Cranberry Simple Syrup
• Rosemary Simple Syrup
• Lavender Simple Syrup
• Demerara Syrup
• Vanilla Syrup