Infused syrups sweeten summer beverages

Putting your own artisanal touch on summer refreshment is simple. Literally.

Simple syrups are an often overlooked - but as the name suggests, incredibly easy - way of adding sweet panache to a wide variety of drinks. And summer's demand for tall and cool beverages is an excellent excuse to get acquainted with them.

Simple syrup is a standard bartending ingredient used as a sweetener in many cocktails (it dissolves more readily than dry sugar), as well as for soaking or glazing some baked goods. While it can be purchased, a simple syrup is easily made by combining water and granulated sugar, heating until dissolved, then cooling.

The syrups also can be flavored by adding fruit, herbs, citrus zest or other ingredients and allowing them to steep overnight. Once strained, the syrups can be used as a beautiful, flavorful way to spike seltzer water (creating your own soda), cocktails or even coffee (especially iced).

A traditional ratio for simple syrup is equal parts sugar and water. But when the syrup is intended for cocktails and other drinks, it's more common to use two parts sugar to one part water. This ratio creates a thicker syrup that both sweetens and adds body to a drink.

To help you get started, we've created eight flavored simple syrups, as well as drink recipes to use them in. Six of the syrups follow the same basic method, and have been condensed into one recipe. The remaining two have individual approaches.