Cocktails · Updated Oct 2026
Cocktails With Simple Syrup: 20 Classic Specs
Twenty classic cocktails made with simple syrup, with exact specs in oz and ml, plus which syrup to use: 1:1 for shaken sours, rich 2:1 for stirred drinks.
Most cocktails that use simple syrup follow one of two patterns. Sours use ¾ oz (22 ml) of 1:1 syrup with 2 oz (60 ml) of spirit and ¾–1 oz (22–30 ml) of fresh citrus, shaken with ice. Stirred drinks like the Old Fashioned use just ¼ oz (7 ml) of rich 2:1 syrup. Learn those two and you can make all twenty drinks below.
Which syrup, and how much
| Style | Syrup | Typical amount |
|---|---|---|
| Shaken sours | Classic 1:1 | ¾ oz (22 ml) |
| Long drinks with soda | Classic 1:1 | ½–¾ oz (15–22 ml) |
| Stirred and built drinks | Rich 2:1 or demerara | 1 barspoon to ¼ oz (5–7 ml) |
| Honey and agave drinks | Honey syrup, agave syrup | ¾ oz (22 ml) |
Rich syrup is about 1½ times as sweet as 1:1, so if you only have one kind, swap with the two-thirds rule: ¾ oz of 1:1 equals ½ oz of rich. The ratio guide covers the details.
Shaken sours
Shake everything with ice for 10–12 seconds and strain. For drinks with egg white, shake once without ice first, then again with ice.
| Drink | Spirit | Citrus | Syrup (1:1) | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daiquiri | 2 oz (60 ml) white rum | 1 oz (30 ml) lime | ¾ oz (22 ml) | Serve up |
| Whiskey Sour | 2 oz (60 ml) bourbon | ¾ oz (22 ml) lemon | ¾ oz (22 ml) | Optional egg white; serve on the rocks |
| Gimlet | 2 oz (60 ml) gin | ¾ oz (22 ml) lime | ¾ oz (22 ml) | Serve up, lime wheel |
| Pisco Sour | 2 oz (60 ml) pisco | ¾ oz (22 ml) lime | ¾ oz (22 ml) | 1 egg white; 3 drops of bitters on the foam |
| Southside | 2 oz (60 ml) gin | ¾ oz (22 ml) lime | ¾ oz (22 ml) | Shake with 6 mint leaves; fine-strain, serve up |
| Caipirinha | 2 oz (60 ml) cachaça | ½ lime, cut in wedges | ¾ oz (22 ml) | Muddle lime with syrup, add cachaça and ice, shake, pour it all |
Long drinks with soda or bubbles
Shake the base, strain over fresh ice, then top. Adding the soda last keeps the bubbles.
| Drink | Spirit | Citrus | Syrup | Top with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tom Collins | 2 oz (60 ml) gin | 1 oz (30 ml) lemon | ¾ oz (22 ml) 1:1 | 2 oz (60 ml) soda water |
| Mojito | 2 oz (60 ml) white rum | 1 oz (30 ml) lime | ¾ oz (22 ml) 1:1, or mint syrup | 8 mint leaves pressed gently; 2 oz (60 ml) soda |
| French 75 | 1 oz (30 ml) gin | ½ oz (15 ml) lemon | ½ oz (15 ml) 1:1 | 3 oz (90 ml) sparkling wine, in a flute |
| Paloma | 2 oz (60 ml) blanco tequila | 2 oz (60 ml) grapefruit, ½ oz (15 ml) lime | ½ oz (15 ml) 1:1 or agave | 2 oz (60 ml) soda water |
| Ginger Mule | 2 oz (60 ml) vodka | ¾ oz (22 ml) lime | ¾ oz (22 ml) ginger syrup | 3 oz (90 ml) soda water, built in the glass |
Stirred and built drinks
Stir with ice for about 30 seconds, until the glass is very cold, and strain over a large cube. These drinks have no citrus to balance sweetness, so use rich syrup sparingly.
| Drink | Spirit | Syrup | Other | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Fashioned | 2 oz (60 ml) bourbon or rye | ¼ oz (7 ml) rich or demerara | 2 dashes Angostura bitters | Large cube, orange peel |
| Mint Julep | 2½ oz (75 ml) bourbon | ½ oz (15 ml) 1:1 | 8–10 mint leaves, pressed gently | Packed crushed ice, mint sprig |
| Ti' Punch | 2 oz (60 ml) rhum agricole | 1 barspoon (5 ml) rich | Coin of lime peel with a little flesh | Built and stirred in the glass |
Honey, agave and flavored syrups
These classics call for something other than plain syrup. Each one links to a recipe for the syrup.
| Drink | Spirit | Citrus | Syrup | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bee's Knees | 2 oz (60 ml) gin | ¾ oz (22 ml) lemon | ¾ oz (22 ml) honey syrup | Shake, serve up |
| Gold Rush | 2 oz (60 ml) bourbon | ¾ oz (22 ml) lemon | ¾ oz (22 ml) rich 3:1 honey syrup | Shake, large cube |
| Agave Margarita | 2 oz (60 ml) blanco tequila | 1 oz (30 ml) lime | ¾ oz (22 ml) agave syrup | Shake, serve on the rocks |
| Spicy Margarita | 2 oz (60 ml) blanco tequila | 1 oz (30 ml) lime | ¾ oz (22 ml) jalapeño syrup | Shake, salt rim optional |
| Clover Club | 1½ oz (45 ml) gin, ½ oz (15 ml) dry vermouth | ½ oz (15 ml) lemon | ½ oz (15 ml) raspberry syrup | Egg white; dry-shake, shake, serve up |
| Mai Tai | 2 oz (60 ml) aged rum, ½ oz (15 ml) orange curaçao | ¾ oz (22 ml) lime | ½ oz (15 ml) orgeat + ¼ oz (7 ml) demerara | Shake, crushed ice, mint sprig |
classic4 min
Honey Syrup
floral · round · honeyed
spice25 min
Jalapeño Simple Syrup
green pepper · bright heat · sweet
specialty40 min
Orgeat (Almond Syrup)
nutty · marzipan · floral
fruit40 min
Raspberry Syrup
fresh raspberry · tart · floral
Adjusting to taste
Specs are a starting point. Lemons and limes vary in sourness, and you may like drinks drier or sweeter.
- Too sharp? Add syrup in ⅛ oz (4 ml) steps, about a barspoon at a time.
- Too sweet? Add a few drops of citrus, or cut the syrup to ½ oz (15 ml) next time.
- Tastes thin? Use rich syrup at two-thirds the amount, so the drink gets sweetness with less water.
- Measure. A jigger is the single most useful bar tool, because ¼ oz of syrup either way changes a drink noticeably.
OXO SteeL Angled Measuring Jigger
Angled ounce and tablespoon markings read from above, so you pour exact syrup doses without crouching to eye level.
Best for Measuring syrup into drinks
Mixology & Craft 16-Piece Cocktail Shaker Set
Shaker, double jigger, bar spoon, tongs and more in one stainless kit: everything needed to put your syrups to work.
Best for Starting a home bar
FAQ
How much simple syrup goes in a cocktail?
Most shaken sours use ¾ oz (22 ml) of 1:1 simple syrup with 2 oz of spirit and ¾–1 oz of citrus. Stirred drinks like the Old Fashioned use ¼ oz (7 ml) of rich syrup or less.
Should I use 1:1 or 2:1 simple syrup for cocktails?
Use 1:1 for shaken drinks and anything with citrus, and rich 2:1 for stirred drinks, where you want sweetness and texture without extra water. Rich syrup is sweeter, so use two-thirds as much.
What cocktails use simple syrup?
Most sours and many classics do: the Daiquiri, Whiskey Sour, Gimlet, Tom Collins, Mojito, French 75, Mint Julep and Old Fashioned all use simple or rich syrup.
Can I use sugar instead of simple syrup in a cocktail?
Yes, but dissolve it first. Stir 1 tablespoon of superfine sugar into the citrus juice until it disappears, which matches ¾ oz of simple syrup, then add the spirit and shake.