Whole Clove Syrup
Start with fewer cloves than you think - the flavor intensifies as it steeps and can become overpowering.
Start with fewer cloves than you think - the flavor intensifies as it steeps and can become overpowering.
- 10 wholecloves(or to taste)
- 1 cupwater
- 1 cupwhite sugar
- 1Taste and remove cloves when desired strength is reached.
- 2Strain through a fine mesh strainer.
- 3Refrigerate for up to two months.
Store in a sealed glass bottle in the refrigerator for up to four weeks. The clove flavor continues to develop over time, so taste periodically and dilute with plain simple syrup if it becomes too intense. Keep refrigerated.
Start with no more than three to four whole cloves per cup of liquid — clove is one of the most potent spices and the flavor intensifies significantly as it steeps. Taste at fifteen minutes and remove the cloves early if the flavor is already strong; over-steeping produces a numbing, medicinal quality. Pair with warming spices like cinnamon or allspice to round out the sharp edges.
Cloves (Syzygium aromaticum) are the dried flower buds of a tree native to the Maluku Islands of Indonesia — the Spice Islands — and represent one of the most sought-after spices in world trade history. Arab merchants controlled the clove trade for centuries before European powers fought wars over the islands in the 16th and 17th centuries. Cloves reached European kitchens and apothecaries as both a flavoring and preservative, and appear throughout medieval mulled wine and spiced cordial recipes. In cocktail history, clove-spiced syrups underpin classic hot drinks like mulled cider and vin chaud, and form part of the spice profile in falernum and many tiki-era syrups. The eugenol in cloves also provides mild warming and aromatic qualities that have made old-fashioned spiced cordials feel comforting for generations of drinkers.
**Mulled Clove Syrup** — Steep cloves with one cinnamon stick, three allspice berries, and a strip of orange peel for a full mulled wine spice character ideal for hot cocktails. **Clove Honey Syrup** — Use equal parts honey and water instead of simple syrup for a richer, more aromatic result. **Winter Spice Syrup** — Add a split vanilla bean and a few grates of fresh nutmeg for a Christmas-forward variation perfect in aged rum and bourbon cocktails.
Free from all top-8 allergens. Clove contains eugenol, which can cause reactions in individuals with eugenol sensitivity; those who react to balsam of Peru or certain dental products containing clove oil may wish to use caution.