Spruce cocktails are having a moment... and for good reason. That bright, pine-forward, forest-floor aroma is basically the essence of winter in liquid form, albeith in a very different way from my seasonal Spiced Simple Syrup or Spiced Cranberry Syrup. But not everyone has access to fresh spruce tips, and most home bartenders don’t want to go hiking for garnishes before making a drink.
This syrup solves that. Instead of relying on real spruce, we mimic those same crisp, woodsy flavors using ingredients that echo those flavors found in spruce: rosemary, juniper, and a strip of lemon peel. The result? A beautiful, almost snowy flavor that plays beautifully with gin, aquavit, vodka (snoar) and even whiskey.
What You’ll Need:
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1 cup organic cane sugar (roughly 240g on the kitchen scale)
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1/2 cup water (120g if using a kitchen scale)
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1-2 fresh rosemary sprigs
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1 tsp dried juniper berries (lightly crushed)
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Peel of ½ lemon (no pith)
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Tiny pinch of salt (optional but recommended)
Instructions:
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Heat the base:
Combine water and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves and the syrup gently simmers: do not boil. -
Add aromatics:
Add the rosemary, crushed juniper, lemon peel, and a pinch of salt. Let the mixture steep on low heat for about 10 minutes. The aroma should smell like fresh-cut pine. -
Steep off heat:
Turn off the heat, cover the pot, and let everything infuse for another 15-30 minutes as it cools. This longer steep gives the syrup that deep, resinous, wintery finish. -
Strain + bottle:
Strain through a fine mesh strainer and bottle in a clean glass jar. Refrigerate for up to 2–3 weeks.
Bartender Notes:
If you do have access to real spruce or fir tips (typically best in spring), you can make a more traditional version:
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Replace the rosemary/juniper with 1 cup fresh spruce tips
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Steep the tips in hot water for 30–45 minutes before adding sugar
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Then convert to a 2:1 syrup by dissolving sugar into the strained infusion
Fresh tips give a soft, citrusy pine flavor compared to the more resin-forward pantry method above.
How to Use It
This syrup brings winter energy to anything it touches. Try it in:
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Spruce Gin & Tonic: gin + lime + soda + ½ oz spruce syrup
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Holiday Collins: gin or aquavit, lemon, spruce syrup, soda
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Spruce Old Fashioned: rye whiskey or bourbon, spruce syrup, aromatic bitters
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Snow Day Mule: vodka, lime, spruce syrup, ginger beer (for you Basic B's)
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Zero-proof Winter Spritz: sparkling water, spruce syrup, squeeze of lemon
Final Pour
If “fresh forest air” could be bottled, this would be it. This spruce-inspired syrup is bright, crisp, and just woodsy enough to give your winter drinks a signature twist... no foraging required.
Make a batch, tag @highproofpreacher, and show me how you’re using it. And if you’re not already subscribed, sign up for Simple Syrup Monthly to get more original recipes like this in your inbox every month.
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