Homemade Rose Simple Syrup

A rose by any other name is…a simple syrup? Yes, you can make Homemade Rose Simple Syrup to flavor cocktails and drinks, hot or cold. It’s easy, economical, and delicious!

Plus, can you say homemade rose latte?

What is Simple Syrup

We’ve talked previously about making homemade vanilla extract and how it takes some pre-planning because extracts take months to steep. But what if you need some instant gratification? While your vanilla extract is watching Netflix and chillaxing, make a simple syrup.

Simple syrups are basically liquid sweeteners made of sugar and water boiled together. Plain or flavored, they sweeten coffee, tea, cocktails, lemonade, iced tea, and sparkling water.

Premade simple syrups are found at grocery stores and liquor stores. Have you seen the Torani syrups used to flavor coffee drinks? Those are simple syrups. What about Rose’s or Monin syrups for cocktails? Those also are simple syrups.

I first learned about simple syrups while ghostwriting a cocktail and mixology book for a client. There is a “golden ratio” that is 2 parts alcohol, 1 part sour, and 1 part sweet, sometimes in the form of a simple syrup. This combo is what makes a cocktail taste good. Any other cocktail ingredients add another layer of complexity while a garnish is nose or eye candy.

A good example of the golden ratio is the cocktail my neighbor Byron makes. It’s a great little drinkie with White Claw, of all things, as the base. Now neither my neighbor nor I are the target market for White Claw (it is 20-something Gen Zers) but he doctors it up and turns it into something delicious.

He uses a non-mathy formula of vodka/tequila (alcohol) + White Claw (sweet) + lime juice (sour) = yummy drink. By employing the golden ratio, my neighbor transforms a mediocre, sweet, grain alcohol drink into a bright, refreshing cocktail that I am happy to imbibe at their Super Bowl and July 4th parties.

How to Use Simple Syrups

Homemade simple syrup can be used in so many creative ways.

• Cocktails and mocktails. Bring sweet complexity to mixed drinks.
• Desserts. Drizzle syrup between cake layers, over ice cream, or into frosting.
• Hot or iced coffee and tea. Add a teaspoon or two to sweeten and flavor your morning cup.
• Lemonade and sparkling water. Stirs into cold drinks easily because the sugar is already dissolved.
• Whipped cream. Whisk into whipped cream to add a hint of flavor.

I did not calculate the price breakdown for purchased simple syrup versus homemade syrup. But as a reference, Torani syrups cost between $11 to $20 per bottle. Monin syrups are about the same. Their primary ingredients: sugar and water, plus some artificial flavorings. Given that a two-pound bag of sugar can be bought for less than $5, we can safely assume that homemade syrup costs way less than bottled ones.

This project is fast and easy, ready to use immediately. It makes a nice gift, too.

Lessons Learned

• Be sure to use food-grade dried rose petals which have not been sprayed with pesticide. I found mine on Amazon. If you grow roses, friend, you have hit the jackpot because you can dry your rose petals for free.
• To semi-sterilize a clean jar, add boiling water to it and let sit for 15 minutes. Dump out the hot water and let the jar dry upside down.
• Make a rose latte by adding 1 or 2 teaspoons of the simple syrup to hot milk and coffee.

Hat Tips

Many thanks to Liquor.com for their simple syrup recipe.

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