let's get real. you and your holiday guests are about to consume a ton of cocktails. and the last thing you need at this moment is a bunch more work to do. 

but let me ease your fears. simple syrup is really as easy as the name would lead you to believe. if you have sugar on hand and ten minutes to spare, you can easily throw this syrup together. it is a life savor when the moment is a little sour and you need to add a bit of sweet to the situation. once made, you can keep the syrup in the fridge for a month and i find myself using it as a light sweetener on fruit, in my tea as well as in my holiday beverages. you are really only limited by your imagination. 

if your imagination is fried, that is ok too. here are a few cocktails you could use the simple syrup for. 

pomegranate + candied rosemary gin & tonic
casco bay sweet limeade
blackberry + sage gin fizz

simple syrup
serves: 1 cup
prep time: 1 minute
active time: 10 minutes
total time: 15 minutes
ingredients: 1 cup water. 1 cups sugar. medium saucepan. 

in a medium saucepan combine the water and sugar. 

bring the mixture to a boil. let the liquid boil until the sugar has dissolved. 

once the sugar has dissolved, remove the liquid from the heat and allow it to sit for a few minutes before you bottle up the simple syrup.

store it in a jar or bottle in the fridge for up to one month. 

xo, a

simple syrup
serves: 1 cup
prep time: 1 minute
active time: 10 minutes
total time: 15 minutes
ingredients: 1 cup water. 1 cups sugar. medium saucepan. 
in a medium saucepan combine the water and sugar.
bring the mixture to a boil. let the liquid boil until the sugar has dissolved.
once the sugar has dissolved, remove the liquid from the heat and allow it to sit for a few minutes before you bottle up the simple syrup.
store it in a jar or bottle in the fridge for up to one month. 

the christmas countdown is on. less than ten days till the madness and then we can all let out a big sigh of relief till next year.

it's funny. until you are an "adult" with lots of work to do before the big day, christmas is what you LIVE for. basically as a child, the whole year is spent counting down till this one day. and as an adult, we spend most of the year working for the day and then feel a huge weight lifted when it is all over.

and since it is likely that most, if not all of my readers are "adults" i have a little something to help us all get through the next week and a half. a pretty little cocktail that hits the spot, wows your guests and takes minimal effort. just what santa ordered.

blackberry + sage gin fizz
serves: 1
prep time: 2 minutes
active time: 1 minute
total time: 3 minutes
ingredients: 2 oz gin. 1 oz simple syrup. 1 oz lemon juice. .5 cup club soda. 4 sage leaves. 2 blackberries. 1 toothpick. 2 cups ice.

start by separating your ice. half in your serving glass and half in whatever glass you will be mixing your drink in.

finely chop one of your sage leaves. 

stack your remaining 3 sage leaves and run your toothpick threw them. 

skewer your two blackberries with the toothpick and reserve. 

in your mixing glass, combine the chopped sage leaf, gin, simple syrup and lemon juice. 

shake or stir well and strain the mixture over ice in your serving glass. 

top off your cocktail with club soda to taste. 

garnish with blackberry and sage skewer and serve. 

xo, a

blackberry + sage gin fizz
serves: 1
prep time: 2 minutes
active time: 1 minute
total time: 3 minutes
ingredients: 2 oz gin. 1 oz simple syrup. 1 oz lemon juice. .5 cup club soda. 4 sage leaves. 2 blackberries. 1 toothpick. 2 cups ice.
start by separating your ice. half in your serving glass and half in whatever glass you will be mixing your drink in.
finely chop one of your sage leaves.
stack your remaining 3 sage leaves and run your toothpick threw them. skewer your two blackberries with the toothpick and reserve.
in your mixing glass, combine the chopped sage leaf, gin, simple syrup and lemon juice.
shake or stir well and strain the mixture over ice in your serving glass.
top off your cocktail with club soda to taste.
garnish with blackberry and sage skewer and serve.