Stirrings Simple Syrup Mix 12OZ

Stirrings Simple Syrup Mix 12OZ is a non-alcoholic cocktail mixer made from pure cane sugar and triple-filtered water in a 12-ounce glass bottle. It earned a Silver Medal and 87/100 "Highly Recommended" rating from Tastings.com in 2018, distinguishing it from the high-fructose-corn-syrup-based syrups that dominate the mixer aisle.

Quick Facts: ABV: 0% (Non-Alcoholic)  |  Size: 12 oz  |  Type: Pure Cane Sugar Simple Syrup  |  Brand: Stirrings

Production & Ingredients

Stirrings keeps the ingredient list deliberately short: water, cane sugar, and lactic acid as a natural preservative. The water is triple-filtered before blending, and the formula is free of high fructose corn syrup, synthetic preservatives, and artificial ingredients. The syrup is packaged in BPA-free glass, which prevents the plastic-leached off-flavors that can affect shelf-stable syrups over time. The result is a clean-tasting sweetener designed to dissolve readily in cold cocktails — something granulated sugar struggles to do.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Neutral and clean, with a faint hint of raw cane sweetness. No caramel or molasses overtones, keeping it versatile across cocktail styles.

Taste: The sweetness registers as moderate rather than cloying, with a light body that integrates smoothly into mixed drinks. Some bartenders note the viscosity is thinner than a traditional 1:1 homemade syrup, meaning a slightly heavier pour may be needed to reach the same sweetness level. The cane sugar base delivers a cleaner finish than corn-syrup alternatives, without any lingering artificial aftertaste.

Finish: Brief and transparent, allowing the base spirit and other cocktail ingredients to remain front and center. No residual stickiness or off-notes.

How to Use Stirrings Simple Syrup

Use it anywhere a recipe calls for simple syrup — it dissolves instantly in cold liquids, making it more practical than muddling sugar cubes or dissolving granulated sugar. It works particularly well in an Old Fashioned, where the clean sweetness supports the whiskey without competing with bitters. In a Daiquiri, it provides balanced sweetness that lets fresh lime juice and white rum shine. For a Tom Collins, the light body blends seamlessly with gin and soda water, keeping the drink crisp rather than heavy.

Best For

• Stocking a home bar with shelf-stable, high-quality mixers
• Hosting cocktail parties without the prep time of making syrup from scratch
• Gift baskets paired with spirits and bar tools for aspiring home bartenders
• Health-conscious drinkers avoiding high fructose corn syrup in their cocktails

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Stirrings Simple Syrup taste like? It delivers a clean, moderate sweetness from pure cane sugar with no artificial aftertaste or caramel notes. The body is lighter than many homemade 1:1 syrups, so it blends easily without weighing down a drink.

How does Stirrings Simple Syrup compare to Master of Mixes Simple Syrup? Master of Mixes, billed as America's top-selling simple syrup, relies on high fructose corn syrup as its primary sweetener, while Stirrings uses pure cane sugar. This gives Stirrings a cleaner flavor profile, though Master of Mixes is often available in larger bottles and at a lower per-ounce cost.

Is Stirrings Simple Syrup good for cocktails? Yes — its primary purpose is cocktail mixing, and it dissolves readily in cold drinks, which makes it more convenient than granulated sugar. It is a straightforward substitute in any recipe calling for simple syrup.

Where is Stirrings Simple Syrup made? Stirrings is a United States-based cocktail mixer brand. The syrup is produced domestically using triple-filtered water and pure cane sugar.

What foods pair well with Stirrings Simple Syrup? Beyond cocktails, it works as a sweetener drizzled over fresh fruit or berries, stirred into iced coffee or cold-brew tea, mixed into lemonade for a smoother sweetness than granulated sugar, or used as a light glaze base for grilled stone fruits like peaches.

What sizes does Stirrings Simple Syrup come in? The standard offering is a 12-ounce glass bottle, which is the most widely available size from the brand.

Is Stirrings Simple Syrup worth the price? It sits in the premium tier for bottled simple syrups, justified by its cane-sugar-only formula, glass packaging, and absence of high fructose corn syrup. For bartenders who value ingredient transparency and don't want to make syrup at home, it represents a practical upgrade over mass-market alternatives.

Why Stirrings Simple Syrup?

The 2018 Silver Medal and 87-point "Highly Recommended" score from Tastings.com backs up what the ingredient list promises: a clean, no-filler sweetener built for cocktails. In a category where most competitors lean on high fructose corn syrup, Stirrings stands apart by using only pure cane sugar and triple-filtered water. The BPA-free glass bottle preserves flavor integrity and avoids the plastic-taste risks of cheaper packaging. For anyone serious about building balanced drinks at home, it removes the hassle of boiling sugar and water while maintaining a quality standard that cheap alternatives simply cannot match.