Basil Simple Syrup Recipe for Cocktails

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This Basil Simple Syrup recipe is a delicious way to flavor cocktails. Just three simple ingredients can take your cocktail from good to great! If you love herbs or creating new flavor combinations for your drinks, this is a must-try!

jar full of basil simple syrup recipe with extra basil leaves — Let’s make this easy Basil syrup recipe.

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Why this recipe works

Basil simple syrup is an easy way to add the refreshing taste of basil to any cocktail or mocktail recipe that you already love.

Making one homemade batch of this basil-infused simple syrup can flavor several drinks. Instead of making my Shaken Basil Iced Tea, you can easily add a tablespoon of this to tea instead. Or mix up something fruity like a Strawberry Basil Margarita.

Related post: Vanilla Simple Syrup Recipe

Basil simple syrup is a great addition to Moscow Mules, or in most drinks that call for a little bit of sweetener. It is a fun way to create something totally unique.

Not a fan of overly sweet drinks? You can modify the amounts of everything in this flavored simple syrup recipe to make it fit your taste preferences. You could even make this more like my Lavender Tea and leave the sugar out completely!

Making simple syrup can seem intimidating, but this herb infused syrup is actually really easy! Once you make it, you’ll find tons of delicious ways to use it.

Ingredient Notes

Fresh basil laying on a counter next to a jar of water and a small bowl with white sugar. — What you need to make basil simple syrup.

Fresh basil is key for making that basil flavor stand out and pop. I love to buy fresh basil at the farmer’s market on the weekend and enjoy that flavor all week long.

White sugar is the classic sugar to use in this recipe. You could use demerara sugar or a sugar alternative with slightly different taste results.

How to Make Simple Basil Syrup – Step-by-Step Instructions

mixing in the sugar and water to the basil leaves on the stove

Step 1

Add water, sugar, and basil to a small saucepan.

Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar.

basil in sauce pan on the stove with wooden spoon

Step 2

Once the sugar is fully dissolved, allow to simmer for 1 minute. Then remove from heat.

Step 3

Let the basil leaves steep in the syrup for 30 minutes, then remove with a slotted spoon.

Step 4

Let the basil simple syrup cool to room temperature.

mason jar full of basil simple syrup on counter

Store the flavored simple syrup in an air-tight container.

This basil syrup for cocktails and mocktails recipe makes a little less than half a cup because some of the water evaporates.

Many cocktail recipes call for 1 ounce or less of simple syrup so you’ll get several servings out of one batch.

If you don’t want to take the time to make a batch of this simple syrup you can still make a tasty cocktail. Make a Cheater Simple Syrup with a sugar fube and muddle fresh basil. The flavor will be more subtle but still tasty!

Tips and Tricks

If the basil flavor still isn’t strong enough for you after making this simple syrup, muddle a few extra basil leaves directly to your cocktail.
This same base recipe can create different kinds of herb simple syrups. Swap out the basil for thyme, mint or rosemary.
If you are worried about any small pieces of leaves in your syrup, you can use a fine strainer (or cheesecloth) to get them out before putting it in your storage container.
This recipe is easy to scale up and because it needs to be made ahead of time is great for a party bar!

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between sugar syrup and simple syrup?

They are the same thing. Since simple syrup is made from sugar that turns into a syrup, it’s the same end result sometimes called by another name.

Why does simple syrup turn yellow?

Although in this case the basil leaves lend to the changing color of this simple syrup, it often turns yellow based on the type of sugar used and if it starts to caramelize while cooking.

How do you store Simple Syrup?

Store the completely cooled simple syrup in an air-tight container in the refrigerator.

How long does simple syrup last?

Traditional simple syrup made with 1:1 parts sugar and water can usually last for about a month if stored in the fridge. Because this recipe has fresh herbs, I would only keep it for about a week. As the basil breaks down it may create mold or bacteria.

jar full of basil syrup for cocktails sitting on white marble counter

This delicious simple syrup with basil is great in all kinds of cocktails. Try it out for your next happy hour.

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