Name: Easy Rosemary Simple Syrup (For Cocktails and Drinks)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 65 min
Ingredients: 10 g rosemary sprigs (About 3 to 4 4-inch whole sprigs on the stem); 200 g sugar (1 cup); 237 g water (1 cup)

This easy rosemary simple syrup recipe creates a fresh flavor packed syrup that screams ROSEMARY!!! That’s because it’s made with fresh rosemary springs infused into simple syrup!

Two bottles of rosemary simple syrup sit on a green countertop with rosemary on the countertop as well. A small bowl has syrup being poured into it. One bottle of syrup has been infused longer and with more rosemary, so it is darker than the other.

One of the biggest lessons I learned in culinary school was the importance of understanding and using flavor. It’s a true skill to be able to know what flavors work well with other flavors, especially when dealing with bolder flavor profiles like herbs and spices. Rosemary is one of those herbs that can take over anything it touches, but when balanced with complementary flavors it can truly create magic. 🪄

This recipe was inspired by my cranberry holiday mule featuring festive flavors of cranberry, ginger, and rosemary. Most of the time, when cocktails have a sprig of fresh rosemary as a garnish, there isn’t any actual rosemary in the drink. This simple syrup is here to change all that. 😏 It’s perfect for adding a little something extra to all of your cocktails, mocktails, and more any time of year, but even more so during the holidays. 😌

why this rosemary simple syrup recipe works:

🌿 bold & herbaceous. Rosemary is a loud and proud flavor that takes center stage. This fragrant syrup is the perfect way to incorporate the beloved woodsy flavor of rosemary into any beverage.

🙌 inventive & unique. Most people love cooking with rosemary, but it’s more rare to see rosemary grace a cocktail menu, aside from using it as a garnish..

🎄 festive & seasonal. While rosemary is usually known as a spring and summer herb, it grows year-round in warmer climates and it’s traditionally associated with winter. It doesn’t hurt that it looks similar to a Christmas tree!

🛒 ingredients

rosemary – this recipe calls for fresh rosemary sprigs, and it’s important to use them in place of dried rosemary. Most herbs and spices that you can purchase at your local grocery store in the spice aisle have been on shelves for years, so they lack potent flavor. Fresh rosemary is bright, vibrant, and pungent. It packs a potency that is difficult to match when compared to dried rosemary. Rosemary is a great plant to grow in an herb garden. But, if you don’t have a green thumb, you can usually find fresh rosemary sold in plastic clamshells in the produce section of your local grocery store.
granulated sugar – plain white sugar is my go-to choice for most simple syrup infusions because of its light and clean flavor profile. You can use a darker, less refined sugar if you choose, but just know it will impact the final flavor. Granulated cane sugar keeps the flavor of the aromatic rosemary the star of the show!
filtered water – use pure filtered water in this recipe to make sure the flavor of the rosemary is front and center!

See the recipe card for the exact quantities.

🍳 instructions

Rinsing and drying fresh sprigs of rosemary.

Step 1: Give your rosemary sprigs a quick rinse and gently pat them dry.

A hand from out of frame is pouring water into a saucepan and heating it over medium heat.

Step 2: Pour 237 g of water into a small saucepan and heat it over medium heat.

Pouring granulated sugar into a small saucepan filled with water over medium heat.

Step 3: Add in 200g of granulated sugar and stir it until it dissolves.

Adding in fresh sprigs of rosemary to a simple syrup mixture to infuse it with rosemary flavor.

Step 4: Once the sugar dissolves, lower the heat to barely a simmer. Add in the rosemary sprigs and allow them to steep for at least 15 minutes, but up to 30.

Removing the infused rosemary from the saucepan.

Step 5: Remove the pan from heat, and carefully strain out the rosemary sprigs. If your syrup has specks of rosemary in it, you can strain it through cheesecloth to remove them.

Step 6: Allow your syrup to cool to room temperature. Store your cooled syrup in an airtight storage container for up to two weeks in the fridge.

Hint: Leave your rosemary on the stem so it’s easier to strain out the whole sprigs when you’re done infusing the syrup!

Wanna save this recipe for later? 📬

I'll email this recipe post to you so you can have it for later!

💡tips & tricks for getting it right

🍽️ how to serve your rosemary syrup

cocktails

This rosemary syrup is perfect for your favorite cocktails! Use it in any cocktail recipe that calls for classic simple syrup for an easy way to add fresh rosemary flavor to your drinks. You can also use it in specially crafted cocktails that feature the flavor of rosemary, like:

yule mule – use this rosemary simple syrup to whip up a herbal cranberry mule worthy of any winter celebration!
rosemary appletini – rosemary simple syrup + apple vodka + apple juice = your new favorite fall martini.
rosemary old-fashioned – use this simple syrup in place of sugar in a classic old-fashioned recipe!

non-alcoholic drinks

This syrup is also great for making rosemary mocktails and other non-alcoholic drinks! Here are some ideas to get you going:

rosemary lemonade – use this rosemary syrup in place of the sugar of your lemonade (or limeade!) recipe for a delightfully herby beverage!
sparkling rosemary cider– add some rosemary simple syrup to sparking apple cider for a fall or winter mocktail!
rosemary iced tea – this is a perfect syrup for tea! Add it to your hot or iced tea for a unique beverage any rosemary lover will go crazy for!

cooking, baking, & gifting

This syrup is also great for baking and gifting, especially during the holiday season!

baking – brush this simple syrup over layer cakes or muffins. It would be divine brushed over an olive oil cake!
roasted nuts – drizzle this syrup over cashews or almonds and roast them for a delicious snack!
gifting – Make a double or triple batch and gift it to family and friends in glass bottles.

ℹ️ troubleshooting tips

too herbal – rosemary is a super strong flavor, so if you find that your syrup is TOO strong in rosemary flavor, you can dilute it by adding in more water and sugar to essentially double the batch of syrup and cut the amount of rosemary in half. This is a great trick when you’ve already made the syrup, but the flavor is much too strong for your liking.
not strong enough – if your syrup isn’t strong enough in flavor, allow it to simmer longer to really intensify the rosemary flavor.

🔆 top tip

For a milder flavor, steep your rosemary sprigs for less time. For a more intense flavor, steep them for longer!

You may want to double-strain your syrup through cheesecloth and a fine mesh strainer to make sure to remove all the tiny bits and pieces. This is especially a good idea if you picked your rosemary fresh from your garden!

♻️ customize your syrups

sugar – you can use whatever sugar you have on hand, but it will affect the flavor of the finished syrup. A less refined sugar or darker sugar (like brown sugar) will have a deeper, caramelized flavor added to it, which can be lovely!
add citrus – add in lemon juice or zest, or lime or orange juice to give your syrup a bit of a citrus zing! Rosemary also goes wonderfully with the flavor of grapefruit!
rich syrup – using a ratio of 2:1 for sugar to water instead of equal parts sugar and water will create a rich syrup, which is thicker and sweeter than traditional simple syrup. Some bartenders and mixologists prefer rich syrups because they pack a more potent flavor.

Fresh sprigs of rosemary sit in a pot of simple syrup over low heat to infuse.

When you put your rosemary into the syrup at first, it will be bright and vibrant. It will lose its color as you infuse it, which is okay!

Rosemary that has been infusing in a saucepan of simple syrup has lost it’s vivid color.

🧰 equipment needed & storage tips

1.5 quart saucepan – you can use whatever saucepan you have on hand, I love my 1.5-quart saucepan from All-Clad. The heavy bottom ensures even heating throughout the cooking time!
non-reactive mesh strainer a fine mesh strainer helps you to separate the rosemary sprigs from the liquid after simmering the mixture.
airtight storage you can use any airtight container you like. OXO squeeze bottles are a favorite of mine for storing simple syrups because you can also stash them in the freezer. Glass bottles are great for gifting simple syrups to friends and family. You can also use a mason jar!
measuring cups – if you don’t have a kitchen scale, you’ll likely need some measuring cups. I love using my glass measuring cups from Anchor Hocking because they can tolerate the quick temperature changes that happen when I’m making simple syrups. I also love this set of measuring cups from King Arthur Baking because they are sturdy, nest well, and include any size you’ll ever need!
kitchen scale – using a kitchen scale has so many benefits, from being more precise to helping you do fewer dishes! If you use a scale, you can simply put everything right in the pot as you measure it, no need to dirty up a bunch of extra dishes! I have and love my OXO kitchen scale.
cheesecloth – you may want to take the extra step of lining your mesh sieve with cheesecloth to remove any small particles.

🫙 how to store homemade syrups

This simple syrup will last you up to two weeks when stored properly in the refrigerator. You can also freeze it for longer-term storage! I love storing it in the freezer in a squeeze bottle or ice cube trays for easy melting.

💬 q+a

What does rosemary taste like?

Rosemary has a strong flavor that is described as woody, piney, and pungent. It has a bright and loud flavor profile that is milder in the winter and stronger in the summer months. It has also been compared to citrus, and can be a bit peppery in flavor as well.

Can I infuse store bought simple syrup with rosemary?

Yes! You can simmer store-bought syrup for 15-30 minutes with rosemary sprigs.

How can I use rosemary simple syrup?

Use this syrup in any beverage that you want to infuse with rosemary flavor! It works wonderfully in cocktails, mocktails, and even tea! You can also use it to brush cakes or as a glaze for pastries.

If you make this recipe, please leave a review in the comments and a star rating!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I read every single comment! I also love connecting on social media, so snap a pic and hashtag it #myrecipeforfun and tag me on Instagram, TikTok, or pin this recipe on Pinterest!

Easy Rosemary Simple Syrup (For Cocktails and Drinks)

This rosemary simple syrup recipe is perfect for adding a little something extra to all of your cocktails, mocktails, and more any time of year, but even more so during the holidays.

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate