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About This Syrup
It’s common to see wine as an ingredient on cocktail menus, but another unique way to both flavor and sweeten drinks is to use this delicious red wine syrup.
I made this syrup for the first time for the Brandywine Sour, a dessert cocktail created by bar manager and author Nick Mautone. The recipe for both the drink and syrup was first published in his book The Artisanal Kitchen: Holiday Cocktails, so the one in this post is as close to the original as possible. What makes this syrup especially interesting is how different it can taste depending on the type of red wine used. Unfortunately, this also affects the amount of sugar that should be added when making the syrup, so make sure you adjust the quantity if needed based on the brand and type of wine you use if you make this at home.
Syrup Ingredients
To make this simple syrup, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Red Wine: This is a type of wine made with dark-colored grape varieties. I used Cabernet Sauvignon.
White Sugar: This is a type of sugar that has been processed, crystallized, and dried. I used C&H Pure Cane Granulated Sugar.
How to Make This Syrup
When making syrups, I prefer to make most of ours using the sous vide method, but I made this one on the stovetop because the sugar only needs to dissolve in the red wine.
To make this syrup, you’ll need the following tools:
Saucepan: This is what the syrup ingredients are placed inside to cook.
Silicone Spatula: This is used to stir the syrup. I use OXO Good Grips Silicone Spatulas because their flexibility allows them to stir and wipe the syrups out of the pan more thoroughly than spoons.
Fine Mesh Strainer: This is used to remove solid ingredients from the syrup during the transfer process. I use the Barfly Stainless Steel Fine Mesh Strainer because its tightly woven mesh is excellent for removing small seeds and pieces of fruit.
Funnel: This is used to transfer the syrup from the bag to the storage containers without making a mess. I prefer to use a small silicone funnel because that type is flexible and easy to store.
Squeeze Bottle: This is used to store the syrup in the refrigerator for immediate use. I prefer OXO Good Grips Squeeze Bottles because they are high quality.
Storage Pouch with Pouring Spout: This is used to store extra syrup in the freezer for later use.
How to Store This Syrup
Once the syrup is made, it will need to be kept cool to preserve its freshness. Whether it will be stored in the refrigerator or the freezer affects the type of container I use, and I make the decision on where to store it based on when I expect to use some or all of the syrup in cocktails.
Refrigerator Storage: I will usually store our syrups in the refrigerator when I plan to use them in a cocktail either right away or within a few days. If that’s the case, I will store some in a condiment squeeze bottle so I can easily pour the syrup into a jigger when I make the drink. It’s rare that I need all sixteen ounces right away though, so I often keep some in the refrigerator and will transfer the rest of the syrup to a pouch so it can be frozen and used later.
Freezer Storage: I will usually store our syrups in the freezer when I don’t think I will use them in a cocktail within a week. If that’s the case, I store them in pouches with pouring spouts because those are made with a flexible material that won’t come open as the syrup expands during the freezing process. I will then thaw the pouches in a bowl of water when I want to use the syrup again.
Flavored syrups like this one should last one to two weeks in the refrigerator and can last up to six months if frozen. I recommend listing the date the syrup was made before storing it so you can keep track of when batches should be used or discarded.
Recipe
This recipe yields approximately sixteen ounces of syrup, which is enough for anywhere from fifteen to thirty-five cocktails depending on the amount needed for the drink.
Add red wine to a saucepan.
Heat over medium high heat until simmering.
Add sugar and heat while stirring for 3-5 minutes until sugar is dissolved.
Remove from heat and let cool for 5-10 minutes.
Strain syrup through a fine mesh strainer 1-2 times to remove any sugar particles.
Pour syrup into a squeeze bottle or pouch with spout using a funnel, then refrigerate or freeze.
Ingredients
Directions
Add red wine to a saucepan.
Heat over medium high heat until simmering.
Add sugar and heat while stirring for 3-5 minutes until sugar is dissolved.
Remove from heat and let cool for 5-10 minutes.
Strain syrup through a fine mesh strainer 1-2 times to remove any sugar particles.
Pour syrup into a squeeze bottle or pouch with spout using a funnel, then refrigerate or freeze.
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More Syrup Recipes
If you like this syrup, here are a few others we make and use in our cocktails that you may enjoy:
Blueberry Syrup: A sous vide syrup made with fresh blueberries, white sugar, gum Arabic powder, citric acid, and water
Gingerbread Syrup: A sous vide syrup made with gingerbread spice, honey, vanilla extract, white sugar, brown sugar, gum Arabic powder, and water
Cranberry Syrup: A sous vide syrup made with fresh cranberries, cane sugar, citric acid, and water
Apple Cinnamon Syrup: A sous vide syrup made with apple cider, cinnamon sticks, and white sugar
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