How to Make Herb Infused Simple Syrup for Cocktails and Mocktails

Let’s make fun and tasty herb infused simple syrup for super flavorful cocktails and mocktails.

variety of herb infused simple syrup on table
A mix of herbs, seasonings and fruit creates beautiful, tasty syrups to add to your favourite cocktails and mocktails.

Read more: Rhubarb Simple Syrup for Cocktails & Mocktails, How to Use Herbs for Tea, How to Muddle Herbs for Beverages

Combine your favorite herbs, fruits and seasonings to create delicious simple syrups that add an extra something-something to your party drinks. Invite your friends and encourage them to create their signature drink at your beverage table where you have a variety of fruits, herbs, citrus, juice, herb infused simple syrups, sparkling water, soda and spirits. I know you’re going to have a great time!

fruit herbs and simple syrups ready for mixing
Making dreamy fruit and herb mocktails and cocktails with simple syrups, herbs and fruit.

What is a Simple Syrup?

If you’ve ever tried stirring granulated sugar into an icy cold drink, you know it does not dissolve easily and the last mouthful can be a little gritty. That’s where, pre-dissolved sugar in the form of simple syrup comes in handy. Simple syrup is basically sugar dissolved in water.

It’s the perfect way to sweeten cold beverages – iced tea, iced coffee, lemonade, fruit punch, mojitos, margaritas, and so on.

It is a great item to have at your beverage mixing station.

variety of herb infused simple syrup on table
A variety of herb infused simple syrup. Try them all this summer!

How to Make Simple Syrup

Making simple syrup is as easy as heating water, adding sugar and stirring to dissolve the sugar. The only thing you need to decide is how much water and sugar to add.

There are 3 typical ratios used in classic mixology:

Classic simple syrup     1 part sugar + 1 part water

Rich simple syrup          2 parts sugar + 1 part water

Light simple syrup         1 part sugar + 2 parts water

steeping four kinds of simple syrup
Print Recipe
5 from 4 votes

Classic Simple Syrup

This classic simple syrup will add easy sweetness to any mocktail or cocktail.
Prep : 2 minutes
Cook : 3 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 14 beverages
Author: Getty Stewart

Ingredients

  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup sugar

Instructions

  • Heat water to simmer. Add sugar.
  • Stir and heat until sugar dissolves (no need to boil).  Remove from heat and let cool.
  • Pour into clean bottle or jar.
  • Store in the fridge for up to 1 month.

Notes

To create a “rich” syrup, use 2 cups sugar to 1 cup water.
To create a “light” syrup, use 1/2 cup water to 1 cup water.
Makes: 1 1/2 cups syrup (about 14 2 Tbsp servings)
Tried this recipe?Mention @GetGettyS or tag #GetGettyS

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

Calories: 58kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Sodium: 1mg | Sugar: 15g | Iron: 1mg
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cocktails, mocktails

Making Simple Syrup Complex!

Of course, there are ways to make simple syrup complex. Add fruit, herbs and aromatics to the sugar water. Or, replace the water with fruit juice or coconut water or replace the sugar with honey. Or do it all! That’s where your creativity comes in – have fun!

How to Make Herb Infused Simple Syrup

Get creative with your simple syrup by infusing some flavor into it.

It’s just like brewing a cup of tea. Simply add fresh herbs and seasonings (ginger, cinnamon stick, lemon grass stalk, etc.) to the hot simple syrup and let it steep for 15-30 minutes or according to your taste preference. The recipe below for Herb Infused Simple Syrup provides general ratios to get you started. You can halve or double the recipe if you wish.

variety of herb infused simple syrup on table
Print Recipe
4.20 from 5 votes

Herb Infused Simple Syrup

Create a unique simple syrup for your favorite cocktails and mocktails.
Prep : 5 minutes
Cook : 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 14 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ½ cup chopped herbs

Instructions

  • Heat water to simmer. Add sugar. Stir and heat until sugar dissolves.
  • Remove from heat, add herbs and let steep for 15-30 minutes. Let cool.
  • Strain and pour into bottle or jar.
  • Store in fridge for 3-4 weeks.
  • Can be frozen for longer storage.

Notes

To make a “rich” syrup, use 2 cups sugar and 1 cup water.
To create a “light” syrup, use 1/2 cup sugar and 1 cup water.
For 14 servings (2 Tbsp each)
Tried this recipe?Mention @GetGettyS or tag #GetGettyS

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

Calories: 60kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 2mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g | Iron: 1mg
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Keyword: herb infused syrup, herbs, simple syrup

What Herbs and Seasonings Should I Use?

Use your favorite herbs and whatever you have access to. Some of our favorite creations have been with unlikely herbs like rosemary and sage – who would have guessed?!

steeping four kinds of simple syrup
Four types of simple syrup on the go. Starting top left – lemon zest with lemon verbena, peaches with sage, rosemary and mint.

Here’s a list of herbs and seasonings we’ve tried and loved. Some of these we used in combination, for example lemon verbena and lemon zest, lemon grass and ginger, elderberry blossoms and rosemary. You can mix and match as much as you’d like!

Use these herbs on their own:

  • mint
  • sage
  • rosemary
  • thyme
  • basil
  • lemon balm
  • lemon verbena
  • lemon grass
  • chamomile

Try mixing these herbs with other ingredients like:

  • citrus zest
  • fresh ginger
  • cinnamon sticks
  • star anise
  • elderberry blossoms
  • hibiscus flowers
  • crushed/pureed fruit

Combinations we love. These are just ideas to get you started – get creative!

boing lemon grass simple syrup
Bring lemon grass, ginger and sugar in coconut water or water to boil. Turn off heat and let steep for 15 to 30 minutes.
  • 1/2 cup lemon grass leaves coarsely chopped (2 Tbsp white ends) + 1 Tbsp sliced ginger + 1 cup water + 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup loose mint + 1Tbsp lemon or lime zest + 1 cup water + 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup loose sage + 1/4 cup crushed fresh or frozen cranberries + 2 cinnamon sticks + 1 cup water + 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup loose sage + 1/2 cup crushed peaches + 1 cup water + 1 cup sugar

Get even more complex! Instead of brewing these combos in water, brew them in fruit juice or coconut water.

  • lemon grass & ginger steeped in coconut water
  • mint & lemon or lime with watermelon
  • rosemary steeped in pineapple juice
  • mint and rhubarb juice
watermelon lemon and mint in pot
Mashed watermelon, mint, lemon and sugar. Bring to boil, turn off heat and let steep for 30 minutes. Strain and enjoy as a concentrate with ice and sparkling water with or without alcohol.

How to Use Herb Infused Simple Syrup

Use herb infused simple syrup in any cocktail or mocktail recipe that calls for simple syrup. For example, last week I made this Strawberry Margarita with our rosemary simple syrup instead of the simple syrup it asks for. It was fantastic!

While we enjoy cocktails at our house now and then, we most often use our herb infused simple syrups for everyday non-alcoholic spritzers. My teen daughter and I have been enjoying these all summer long. While the exact ingredients vary, the formula is pretty much the same:

Fill a glass with ice. Add a 1/4 cup fruit juice, 1-2 Tbsp herb infused simple syrup, fill remainder of glass with sparkling water, stir and enjoy.

Here are some of our favorite combos to try. But be sure to experiment and create your own signature bevie.

blue ginger spritzer mocktail in glass
A blueberry ginger & lemon grass spritzer.
blue ginger spritzer mocktail in glass
Print Recipe
5 from 4 votes

Blue Ginger Spritzer

Enjoy your favorite blue fruit with a hint of ginger and lemon grass.
Prep : 2 minutes
Total Time: 2 minutes
Servings: 1 glass
Author: Getty Stewart

Ingredients

  • ice
  • 3 Tbsp ginger & lemon grass syrup
  • 3-4 whole blueberries/saskatoons/haskaps
  • 3/4 cup ginger ale/club soda/sparkling water
  • lemon wedge & lemon grass blade

Instructions

  • Fill short tumbler with ice.
  • Add simple syrup and favorite berries.
  • Top with soda or fizzy water.
  • Garnish with lemon wedge, berries or blade of lemon grass.

Notes

For extra wow – make the lemon grass and ginger simple syrup using coconut water instead of regular water. 
Tried this recipe?Mention @GetGettyS or tag #GetGettyS

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

Calories: 165kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 75mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 45g | Iron: 2mg
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Keyword: mocktails
pina romero drink in glass with garnish
Pina Romero – pineapple with rosemary syrup.
pina romero drink in glass with garnish
Print Recipe
5 from 4 votes

Piña Romero

Picture tropical holidays… on your deck.
Prep : 3 minutes
Total Time: 3 minutes
Servings: 1
Author: Getty Stewart

Ingredients

  • ice
  • 1-2 Tbsp rosemary simple syrup
  • ¼ cup pineapple juice
  • 1 Tbsp lemon or lime juice
  • ¼ cup coconut water
  • Club soda or sparkling water

Instructions

  • Fill short tumbler with ice.
  • Add simple syrup, pineapple juice, citrus juice and coconut water.
  • Stir in club soda or sparkling water. Garnish.
Tried this recipe?Mention @GetGettyS or tag #GetGettyS

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

Calories: 103kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 80mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 23g | Iron: 1mg
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Keyword: mocktails

How to Store Simple Syrup

Store simple syrup sealed well in your fridge. The higher the sugar ratio the longer it will keep. Expect herb infused simple syrup to last for a shorter time.

  • Rich simple syrup will last for up to 6 months.
  • Classic simple syrup will last for 1 month.
  • Light simple syrup will only last 1 to 2 weeks.

For longer storage, all types of simple syrup can be frozen. To use, simply thaw and enjoy.

There you have it. The mystery is revealed. Simple Syrup is just that simple. Enjoy!

More Cocktail Ideas

three kinds of rhubarb mocktails
Which one will you try first?

Comment below or if you make one of these recipes, share your photos with me on Instagram @getgettys or Facebook @GettyStewart.HomeEconomist.

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Select, store and serve seasonal food for everyday cooking with Getty. Getty is a food educator and Professional Home Economist, who loves sharing tips and recipes following the seasons from her Canadian kitchen. Sign up to get seasonal tips and recipes delivered to your inbox. Learn more about Getty or check out her books and pdf guides.

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