May 30, 2024 by admin No CommentsLuxe Food and Drinks

Adding Luxe to your Cocktails | Simple Syrups

Infused simple syrups are a fantastic way to add depth and complexity to your cocktails. Here’s a basic guide on how to make them:

Ingredients:

Sugar: Use white granulated sugar or, for a richer flavor, you can use raw or demerara sugar.

Water: Filtered water is preferred to avoid any impurities affecting the flavor.

Flavoring Agent: This can be anything from herbs, spices, fruits, flowers, or even vegetables. Get creative with your combinations! Herbs tend to be my favorite because I grow them in my garden.

Instructions:

Basic Simple Syrup:

In a saucepan, combine equal parts sugar and water (e.g., 1 cup sugar to 1 cup water).

Heat the mixture over medium heat, stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved.

Once the sugar is dissolved, remove the syrup from the heat and let it cool to room temperature before using or storing.

Infusing:

After the sugar is dissolved and the syrup is removed from heat, add your flavoring agent.

For herbs or spices, let them steep in the syrup for about 15-30 minutes, tasting occasionally to ensure it doesn’t get too overpowering.

For fruits or other solid flavorings, you might want to simmer them in the syrup for a few minutes to extract their flavors fully. Strain out the solids before storing.

Straining and Storing:

Once the syrup has infused to your liking, strain out the flavoring agent using a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth.

Store the infused syrup in a clean glass bottle or jar. It can be kept refrigerated for up to a month.

Flavor Ideas:

Herbal Infusions:

Mint

Basil

Rosemary

Lavender

Fruit Infusions:

Berries (strawberries, raspberries, blackberries)

Citrus (lemon, lime, orange)

Pineapple

Mango

Spice Infusions:

Cinnamon

Vanilla bean

Ginger

Cloves

Floral Infusions:

Elderflower

Rose

Hibiscus

Jasmine

Vegetable Infusions:

Cucumber

Jalapeño (for a spicy kick)

Bell pepper

Tips:

Taste as you go. You can always add more flavoring agent if you want a stronger infusion, but you can’t take it out if it’s too strong.

Keep in mind the potency of your flavoring agents. Some, like herbs and spices, can be quite strong and may need less time to infuse.

Label your syrups with the infusion ingredients and date to keep track of flavors and freshness.

Experiment with different combinations to find your favorite flavors for cocktails.

The Basil Limoncello Cocktail

This cocktail is a burst of refreshing citrus flavors balanced by herbaceous basil with an effervescent finish. The best part? It’s only six ingredients, including your infused syrup.

Equipment