Angostura Demerara Sugar Syrup 12.7OZ

Angostura Demerara Sugar Syrup 12.7OZ is a ready-to-use bar syrup made from demerara cane sugar, bottled at 12.7 oz (375 ml) by the House of Angostura in Trinidad & Tobago. Its rich, molasses-laced sweetness distinguishes it from standard simple syrups, making it a go-to ingredient for bartenders building depth in classic and tiki-style cocktails.

Quick Facts: Size: 12.7 oz (375 ml)  |  Origin: Trinidad & Tobago  |  Type: Demerara Sugar Syrup  |  Producer: House of Angostura

Production & Heritage

The House of Angostura was founded in 1824 by Dr. Johann Gottlieb Benjamin Siegert in the Venezuelan town of Angostura (now Ciudad Bolívar) and relocated to Port of Spain, Trinidad, in 1875. Best known worldwide for Angostura aromatic bitters, the company expanded into a range of bar essentials including premium cocktail syrups. This Demerara Sugar Syrup is produced from demerara sugar — a minimally refined cane sugar that retains a portion of its natural molasses content, originally associated with the Demerara region of Guyana. The result is a syrup with a deeper color, richer body, and more complex sweetness than syrups made from white granulated sugar.

Flavor Profile

Aroma: Warm toffee and light caramel with a subtle raw-cane earthiness. A faint hint of molasses rounds out the nose.

Taste: The initial sweetness is clean but noticeably richer than white simple syrup, moving into butterscotch and brown-sugar tones at mid-palate. A gentle minerality from the demerara sugar adds structure without cloying.

Texture: Medium viscosity with a smooth, slightly sticky mouthfeel that integrates easily into shaken or stirred drinks. The finish is warm and lingering with a toasted-sugar quality.

How to Use Angostura Demerara Syrup

This syrup works as a direct substitute for simple syrup in any cocktail where added depth and warmth are desired. It dissolves readily in both cold and room-temperature liquids, eliminating the need to make demerara syrup from scratch.

• Old Fashioned: The toffee richness of demerara syrup is the traditional sweetener in many craft bars' Old Fashioned builds, complementing bourbon or rye with brown-sugar warmth.
• Daiquiri: Swapping white simple syrup for demerara syrup adds a rounder, more complex sweetness that pairs naturally with aged or funky rums.
• Mai Tai: Demerara syrup is a cornerstone of tiki cocktails; its molasses undertones bridge the gap between orgeat, citrus, and dark rum.
• Hot Toddy: The caramel-forward sweetness melts into hot water, whiskey, and lemon with a natural affinity that white sugar cannot replicate.

Best For

• Home bartenders building a professional-quality back bar
• Tiki cocktail enthusiasts who need a consistent demerara syrup on hand
• Gifting alongside a bottle of rum or bourbon for a cocktail-starter kit
• Busy service bars that need shelf-stable, pre-made demerara syrup to maintain speed and consistency

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Angostura Demerara Syrup taste like? It delivers a warm, toffee-forward sweetness with molasses undertones and a subtle raw-cane earthiness, noticeably richer and more complex than standard white simple syrup.

How does Angostura Demerara Syrup compare to homemade demerara syrup? Homemade versions require dissolving demerara sugar over heat and can vary in concentration; the Angostura bottled version provides a consistent ratio and shelf-stable convenience without the need for cooking or refrigeration once sealed.

Is Angostura Demerara Syrup good for Old Fashioneds? Demerara syrup is widely considered the preferred sweetener for an Old Fashioned among craft bartenders, and this bottled version makes the build faster without sacrificing flavor depth.

Where is Angostura Demerara Syrup made? It is produced by the House of Angostura in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, the same facility that has produced Angostura aromatic bitters since 1875.

What foods pair well with drinks made with Angostura Demerara Syrup? Cocktails sweetened with demerara syrup pair well with grilled meats due to the caramel-smoke affinity, dark chocolate desserts that echo the molasses notes, banana-based desserts like bananas Foster, aged cheeses where the brown-sugar sweetness offsets salt and funk, and spiced nuts where the toffee quality complements warm spice.

What sizes does Angostura Demerara Syrup come in? The standard retail size is 12.7 oz (375 ml).

Is Angostura Demerara Syrup worth the price? It positions as an affordable, bar-quality convenience product; the time saved versus making syrup from scratch and the consistency of each batch make it a practical investment for anyone who regularly mixes cocktails at home or behind a bar.

Why Angostura Demerara Syrup?

Demerara sugar syrup has become a staple ingredient in modern cocktail culture, and few companies have the heritage to produce bar essentials like the House of Angostura. With nearly 200 years of experience formulating products for the drinks industry, Angostura brings credibility and consistency to a product that many bartenders otherwise have to make in-house. The retained molasses in demerara sugar provides a flavor dimension — toffee, caramel, raw cane — that white simple syrup simply cannot deliver, and this bottled version ensures the same result pour after pour.