How Long Homemade Simple Syrup Will Last In The Fridge (And The Freezer)

It's easy to be dazzled by the sleight of hand of a good bartender and the low lighting in a bar. A few dashes of this, a stir of that, and like magic, a trendy cocktail appears before you. Making cocktails is definitely a bit of an art, and bartenders regularly memorize hundreds of different recipes and techniques. But most of the classics aren't very complicated to make at home. 

In fact, a lot of drinks are made with similar measurements, known as the cocktail recipe "golden ratio": two parts liquor, one part sweetener, and one part sour. For example, a classic daiquiri is made with just three ingredients: two parts good-quality white rum, one part fresh lime juice, and one part sweetener — typically simple syrup.

When you're setting up your home bar, you'll need to buy a few extras in addition to the spirits: tonic and club soda, as well as bitters and grenadine. Don't waste your money on a bottle of simple syrup, however. Just as the name implies, simple syrup is easy to make at home out of just plain white sugar and hot water. You can use it plain just as a sweetener or make a big batch and make some flavored varieties for experimenting. Simple syrup has a long shelf life — just be sure to store it properly.

Simple syrup is easy to make. But you probably don't want to mix up a batch every time you want to make a drink, so go ahead and make a big batch. Just be sure to store it either in the fridge or the freezer to prevent it from growing mold.

In the fridge, your sugary solution can last for up to a month in an airtight container if it's not mixed with any perishable flavors, such as fruit and fresh herbs. It will be good for at least two weeks if it's made with juice. Use a quart-sized glass Mason jar with a proper lid; a bottle with a swing-top closure works well, too. Even a decent Tupperware-style container will do.

If you make a lot of cocktails or have a party coming up, you can also freeze a batch and pull it out when your fridge supply is getting low. Simple syrup, either plain or flavored, is good in the freezer for up to three months. If you decide to freeze your syrup, it's better to use plastic for storing instead of glass so that the container doesn't crack. Pull your container out of the freezer 24 hours before you need it and leave in the refrigerator to thaw, or immerse the container in cool water in the sink with running water — it should thaw pretty quickly.

If you want to experiment with making different flavors of simple syrup, take advantage of making a bigger batch. Break it into smaller factions and then add herbs, fruits, or other flavorings. The sky's the limit when it comes to flavors, and you can use anything from citrus juice and zest to ginger and herbs to flowers including hibiscus and magnolias. 

Try adding your flavor to the pan when you're heating the syrup, which works great for fresh fruit such as blueberries and strawberries. Or, add your flavorings by infusing your syrup when you store it in the fridge, which is great for more delicate flavors, such as cucumber or thyme.

Simple syrup is useful for more than just cocktails, so try making some flavors to add to your iced coffee, such as vanilla, cinnamon, chocolate and, of course, pumpkin spice. The bonus of having a few flavored syrups hanging around in the fridge or freezer is that they are also great splashed into a glass of seltzer or club soda for an alcohol-free refresher. Just be sure to label and date the containers with a piece of tape and a pen so that you know how old each syrup is getting, and toss them out after two weeks or so — nobody likes a moldy drink.