Techniques
3 Fall Syrups to Try this Season
Add a splash of autumn to your cocktails with these homemade syrup recipes!
With fall in full swing, we’ve been in the mood for all things spiced, sweet, and warming. There’s nothing quite like curling up on the couch during a cool evening with a seasonal cocktail in hand. It can seem tricky at first to tailor your sips to fit the vibe, but we’re going to show you how effortless it is with these syrup recipes!
Ready to get started? JUMP to the recipes:
1. CINNAMON HONEY SYRUP
Let’s start off pretty simple with this wonderfully versatile spiced honey syrup! We always enjoy the richness of honey in Empress 1908 cocktails like the Bee’s Knees and Pollination, but here is where you can add another layer of warmth with cinnamon and cloves.
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 cup Water
- 1 cup Honey
- 2 Cinnamon Sticks
- 5 Whole Cloves
METHOD:
Combine equal parts water and honey in a small pot over medium heat. Add cinnamon sticks and whole cloves and bring to a boil then, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and strain the syrup into a glass jar.
Looking for the perfect cocktail to make with this syrup? Check out the Spiced Autumn Punch that @jaylynn_little recently made for us on Instagram!
Ingredients
- 2 oz Empress 1908 Indigo Gin
- 1 oz Cinnamon Honey Syrup
- 1 oz Apple Juice
- ½ oz Fresh Lemon Juice
Method
Add ingredients to a shaking tin and shake over ice. Fine-strain into a glass filled with ice and garnish with apple slices.
2. CARDAMOM VANILLA SYRUP
Feeling like trying something with more decadence? Look no further than this syrup! With that unmistakably woody and zesty spice of cardamom and robust sweetness of vanilla, this one’s the perfect option when you need your cocktail to make you feel cozy.
INGREDIENTS:
- ½ cup Caster Sugar
- ½ cup Water
- 4 Cardamom Pods, seeds crushed
- 1 Vanilla Bean, seeds scraped
METHOD:
Add all ingredients to a small pan, and heat over a low heat until dissolved. Without stirring, increase the heat and boil for 3-5 minutes or until slightly reduced. Remove from the heat and allow to cool to room temperature. Once cool, double strain into a clean bottle and store in the fridge.
Try this syrup in one of our seasonal favourites: the Fallen Spice by @gourmetglow!
Ingredients
- 1½ oz Empress 1908 Indigo Gin
- ½ oz Fresh Lemon Juice
- ½ oz Cardamom Vanilla Syrup
- 1 oz Grape Juice
- 1 oz Almond Milk
- Fresh Grapes
Method
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with a few ice cubes. Shake vigorously for 30 seconds to emulsify. Fill a rocks glass with ice and strain. Garnish with fresh grapes and serve immediately.
3. SPICED BLACKBERRY SYRUP
We all know fruits and spices work well together. Let’s step outside the box a bit by using blackberries, even though they tend to be more summery. Their darker tang lends itself well autumnal flavours, letting you make some seasonal twists on classics typically enjoyed in the summertime!
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 cups Blackberries
- 1 cup Water
- 1 cup Sugar
- 3 Cinnamon Sticks
- 1 tsp Allspice
METHOD:
Combine the ingredients in a small pot and cook until the sugar dissolves and the blackberries soften. Let cool, then strain.
Need a refreshing cocktail that fits the autumn vibe? Use this syrup in the Spiced Blackberry Bramble by @thegandmkitchen!
Ingredients
- 2 oz Empress 1908 Indigo Gin
- 1 oz Lemon Juice
- 1½ oz Spiced Blackberry Syrup
Method
Combine all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake, then strain into a glass filled with crushed ice.
Hearty flavours, warm spices, and a bounty of produce – what’s not to love about fall? The beauty of these syrup recipes is that you can play around with the ingredients to suit your needs and preferences! Swap out the honey for a different sweetener, blackberries for another tangy fruit, or experiment with various spices! If you’re looking for more, check out some other options in one of our previous articles.
For more cocktail inspiration, be sure to check out our Instagram, Cocktail Page, or Blog!
Sip responsibly!
