Simple Syrup & Beyond
5 Lessons. 5 Days. Free.
Master honey syrup, demerara, orgeat, and custom flavored syrups — the ingredient upgrades that separate good cocktails from great ones. One focused lesson per day, delivered to your inbox.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. Lesson 1 arrives in 2 minutes.
Your 5-Day Syrup Curriculum
Each lesson arrives in your inbox each morning. Read it in 4 minutes, make the syrup that evening.
Lesson 1: Simple Syrup Isn't Simple
The 1:1 ratio most home bartenders get wrong — and the one adjustment that fixes 80% of unbalanced cocktails. Plus: shelf life, storage, and when to use cold-process vs. hot.
Lesson 2: Honey, Agave & Maple
Three simple syrup alternatives that each bring unique flavor. We cover the right ratios (they're not 1:1), which cocktails pair best, and why raw honey beats clover every time.
Lesson 3: Rich Syrups & Demerara
The 2:1 rich syrup technique that transforms an Old Fashioned. Demerara, turbinado, and muscovado — what each brings to stirred cocktails and why bartenders swear by them.
Lesson 4: Orgeat & Falernum
Two specialty syrups that unlock entire cocktail categories. Build an orgeat from almonds in 20 minutes. Understand falernum's spice profile. Plus: the shortcut versions that actually work.
Lesson 5: Custom Flavored Syrups
Your syrup playbook: lavender, rosemary, ginger, cinnamon, vanilla, jalapeño. Infusion techniques, ratios, and how to create a signature syrup that becomes your bartending calling card.
By Day 5, You'll Know How To
- Make simple syrup with the exact ratio every cocktail recipe assumes you know
- Swap in honey, maple, and agave with correct proportions — no more over-sweetened drinks
- Build demerara and brown sugar syrups that add depth to Old Fashioneds and Manhattans
- Create an orgeat from scratch — the key to a real Mai Tai and dozens of tiki cocktails
- Design custom flavored syrups (lavender, ginger, rosemary) that make your drinks unmistakably yours
- Know which syrup to reach for with any cocktail — and why it matters more than the spirit
Your Instructor
Margot Ellison
15 years behind the bar and in the classroom. Former head bartender at two James Beard–nominated cocktail programs. Now teaches home bartenders to make drinks that rival — and beat — what you're paying $18 for. No pretension. Just better cocktails.
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