After playing around with different sugar syrups when making homemade lemonade a little while back, I decided I would play with some more grown-up varieties to use in cocktails (or mocktails!) over the Christmas holiday period. The first one I played with was this spiced brown sugar syrup – the mix of spices just tastes like Christmas to me! It’s super easy to make and will keep in the fridge for a few weeks, so you can always have some ready to go just in case!
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 1 tsp whole cloves
- 1 tsp grated nutmeg (or ground nutmeg if that’s all you have)
- 1 tsp allspice (whole or grated)
- Zest of 1 lemon
- Zest of 1 orange
- 1 cup brown sugar
Steps
- Combine the spices and zests in a saucepan with the water and bring to the boil
- Add the sugar and stir until completely dissolved
- Remove from the heat and leave to cool completely
- Strain and pour into a bottle. Store in the fridge until needed
We used it to make cocktails that combined a spoonful or two of the syrup, rum, fresh lime juice and ginger beer. It would also work really well in a warm drink, with a splash of brandy, or to spice up a hot chocolate (with or without alcohol!). The opportunities are limitless!
What’s your favourite cocktail flavour? Any suggestions for cocktail syrups I should try next?
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I Spy Plum Pie is Liz, an early 30s kiwi-born, Melbourne raised girl who is passionate about the environment and sustainability, food, exploring and learning new things. Join me on my journey to a happy, sustainable life!
Elizabeth
December 1, 2013 at 12:33 am (11 years ago)I’ve never made any cordial syrups but I went to a friends wedding last year and they had made the most beautiful fruit syrups for mocktails they were delicious. I’ll have to try this for Christmas.
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I Spy Plum Pie (admin)
December 2, 2013 at 7:56 am (11 years ago)I’m excited to play with some more ideas too! I think some fruit based ones would be perfect for a long summer evening. This one is perfect for Christmas though with all the spices, yum!