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Manifesting and Mixing Simple Syrup

Hibiscus and Spiced Simple Syrup

 

Time for a little mixology! We wanted to DIY a pint of Butterbeer as well as nail down some Red Potion from World of Warcraft. So Step 1 was mixing up a few batches of what’s called simple syrup – basically sugar dissolved in water. Here’s what we enjoyed:

SPICED SIMPLE SYRUP:
This syrup is good on pancakes, ice cream AND makes great cocktails. So far our favorite use is for making Butterbeer. We’ve included that recipe as well.
Ingredients:
4 cups water
2 cups raw sugar
3 cinnamon sticks
6 whole cloves
6 whole allspice
3 cardamon pods (squeezed open slightly to allow access to the seeds inside)
Grating of fresh nutmeg
5 whole star anise
Makes 4 cups
saucepan
sieve
funnel
clean 750ml bottle  (see our article on bottles)

 

We happen to love Mountain Rose Herbs for our spices. You can use any spices but try to make sure they are as fresh as possible for the best possible flavor.

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Slowly bring to a boil, stirring often. Then lower the heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes.

Remove saucepan from heat, cover, and let steep for 5 minutes. Place a fine-meshed sieve over a large measuring cup or bowl and pour the syrup through.  Let drain completely and discard spices.

Pour the syrup into a clean, dry and of course, interesting,  bottle with a stopper, cover, and let cool. Be sure to label and date the bottle. Most DIY syrups will keep in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks so we recommend that you stick to producing only small batches of syrups such as Hibiscus or Elderberry. We have found that the spiced simple syrup will last indefinitely and we seem to go through a lot of it so we make that in the quantities shown above.

 

Spiced Simple Syrup Ingredients
Our ingredients. Excited to use these spices that also look fabulous in their bottles.
Cooking Up the Spiced Simple Syrup
Bubble, bubble… wait, that’s another post…

 

 

Straining the Syrup
A fine mesh gives you final syrup with no “debris” that might make someone question the integrity of your butterbeer.
And now to put this yummy concoction to use:

 

BUTTERBEER RECIPE (non-alcoholic)
Ingredients:
6 oz. Flying Cauldron Butterscotch Beer or  6 oz. cream soda
crushed ice to fill mug
1 oz. Spiced Simple Syrup
1 Tbs. butter extract
1 Tbs. vanilla extract
1 oz. sweetened condensed milk
Whipped cream to top mug

 

Directions:
Combine the Butterscotch Beer, spiced simple syrup, imitation butter, vanilla and sweetened condensed milk in a mug and stir to combine. If you can’t find the Flying Cauldron Butterscotch Beer in your area, cream soda is a good substitute. Fill the mug the rest of the way with crushed ice. Top with whipped cream. Toast your fellow DIYers. It’s that easy!

 

Butterbeer Ingredients

 

And finally, to try our hands with Hibiscus…

 

HIBISCUS SIMPLE SYRUP:
Our original motivation for making this syrup was to combine it with Curacao and make purple cocktails. Hibiscus has a mild floral flavor and the syrup makes it sweet. BUT, it also happens to make a great Red Potion as used in Zelda and World of Warcraft.  In the games, it restores the health of the drinker.  Hibiscus flowers do contain a nice amount of vitamin C so it is good for you. That’s our story and we are sticking to it.

 

Ingredients:
1/4 cup dried hibiscus flowers
2 cups water
1 cups sugar
Makes 2 cups
saucepan
mixing bowl
sieve
funnel
clean bottle of your choosing

 

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Slowly bring to a boil, stirring often. Then lower the heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat, cover, and let steep for 5 minutes. Place a fine-meshed sieve over a mixing bowl and pour the syrup through. Let drain completely and discard flowers. Pour the syrup into a clean, dry bottle with a stopper, cover, and let cool. Be sure to label and date the bottle. Again, syrup can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks but surely you’ll be needing some health before then.

 

The Purple Cocktail
Enjoying our purple cocktail!
You can read more about herbal mixtures HERE.
Date

June 30, 2016

Category

Medieval

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