While I’d consider myself to be a fairly competent bartender, I am extremely lazy when it comes to making myself drinks. I prefer to whip up simple, low-stakes drinks rather than creative concoctions with a variety of steps. So, whenever a recipe calls for simple syrup I groan to myself because it means I usually have to make a new batch. (For the record, and to illustrate my point, a basic simple syrup is really easy to make at home.) I typically steer clear of grocery store simple syrups and mixers. But, there are some excellent brands making really high quality simple syrups perfect for your home bar.
And, if you’re looking to add some flavor to your morning brew, many of these simple syrups are also great additions to a cold brew, latte, or really any coffee drink. We love these brands because they use high quality ingredients and, while they add a splash of sweetness to your beverage, they’re not overwhelmingly sugary.
So, consider keeping your shelves stocked with one of the brands below.
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Liber & Co. is beloved by bartenders for making their jobs much easier. The brand produces a variety of syrups – including grenadine, ginger syrup, and more – but it also crafts specific mixers so you can build your favorite cocktail with just two ingredients. Combine your whiskey of choice with Liber & Co.’s Old Fashioned cocktail syrup for an easy, well-balanced mixed drink. And while Liber & Co.’s syrups are purpose-built for cocktails, they can work well in coffee drinks too. Add some Demerara Gum Syrup to your cold brew for a rich, silky sweetness or some Toasted Coconut Syrup in your latte.
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Another brand well-regarded for its cocktail mixers, Pratt Standard makes a wide range of syrups and barware. With seasonal releases perfect for holiday cocktails as well as standard syrup options, Pratt Standard is a great choice for the home bartender. The brand even pre-packages kits like the Pratt Standard Winter Cocktail Set ($28) for all of your cold-weather cocktails. Or, if you’re interested in experimenting with home-made sodas, Pratt Standard makes a kola syrup and tonic syrup. Don’t know where to start? Get yourself the Bar Staples Set ($52) with all of the essential syrups.
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Cheeky has been a labor of love for founder April Wachtel, a food and beverage veteran who built Cheeky through the pandemic. Cheeky produces a diverse lineup of syrups and mixers for at-home bartenders. There are tons of flavors to choose from for a variety of cocktails. And, Cheeky offers pre-packaged sets for specific drinks like the Whiskey Sour ($19), Penicillin ($20), and more.
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Spiritless has earned a lot of praise for its non-alcoholic renditions of booze, but we’re here to recommend its simple syrup for your next drink: non-alcoholic or otherwise. As of right now, Spiritless only offers the Horse’s Kick Ginger Syrup, but it’s a knockout. Pair this with some tonic water for a spicy, flavorful, refreshing NA beverage. Or add this to some whiskey for a riff on an Old Fashioned.
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Pink House Alchemy crafts some of the most unique syrups, bitters, and mixers we’ve come across. With offerings as varied as Sarsaparilla Syrup ($14), Pineapple Rosemary Shrub ($18), and Pumpkin Butternut Spice Syrup ($15), there is bound to be something for just about everyone. In addition to its syrups and shrubs, Pink House Alchemy makes dedicated deconstructed drink sets complete with dehydrated fruit slices. There’s a real attention to detail and craft in all of Pink House Alchemy’s products. Plus, we’d highly recommend experimenting with the brand’s offerings in coffee drinks for some stellar concoctions.
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If you’re looking to make barista-quality coffee drinks or bartender-approved mixed drinks at home, these are the simple syrups for you. Maybe you want to lounge around at home and can’t muster the energy to walk a few blocks to your local coffee shop. Or, maybe you’re looking to impress some guests with a well-balanced cocktail.
Consider starting out with some of the basic options like a standard simple syrup and some grenadine or mint syrup. Then, branch out into the mixers and syrups that you’ll want to use regularly like a pumpkin spice in the fall or agave syrup in the summer. Most importantly, get creative and experiment with your new arsenal of simple syrups.
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