At a glance
Start with John Collins
John Collins takes about 4 minutes and lists 15 ml of simple syrup.
A tall sparkling gin sour with fresh lemon, simple syrup, and soda water.
The strongest signals in Kokto’s five-axis profile are freshness (5/5) and sourness (4/5).
Make John CollinsMeasurements and preparation
How much simple syrup should you use?
Start with your chosen recipe’s amount. These examples show how the quantity and preparation change between drinks.
John Collins
For 1 serving · Built · 4 minutes
Full recipe and measuresOld Fashioned
For 1 serving · Stirred · 5 minutes
Full recipe and measuresGin Basil Smash
For 1 serving · Muddled · 5 minutes
Full recipe and measuresFind your next drink
25 cocktails using Simple Syrup
Compare the ingredient amounts and what else you need. Each recipe includes ml, cl, oz and parts, preparation steps and a tasting profile.
10 ml · ShakenAmaretto Sour
Almond richness balanced by lemon, bourbon, and a soft foam.
Also needed: amaretto, bourbon, and lemon juice. 7 minutes.
12.5 ml · ShakenBramble
A crushed-ice gin sour finished with a dramatic blackberry-liqueur float.
Also needed: gin, lemon juice, and crème de mûre. 6 minutes.
7.5 ml · ShakenBrandy Crusta
A carefully balanced shaken classic led by cognac, with triple sec and maraschino liqueur.
Also needed: cognac, triple sec, maraschino liqueur, lemon juice, and aromatic bitters. 5 minutes.
10 ml · optional · ShakenEspresso Martini
Vodka and coffee liqueur energized by fresh espresso.
Also needed: vodka, coffee liqueur, and coffee. 7 minutes.
15 ml · ShakenFrench 75
A bright sparkling gin sour lifted with fresh lemon, sugar syrup, and cold Champagne.
Also needed: gin, lemon juice, and champagne. 6 minutes.
20 ml · MuddledGin Basil Smash
A carefully balanced muddled classic led by gin, with fresh lemon juice and simple syrup.
Also needed: gin, lemon juice, and basil. 5 minutes.
15 ml · ShakenGin Fizz
A carefully balanced shaken classic led by gin, with fresh lemon juice and simple syrup.
Also needed: gin, lemon juice, and soda water. 5 minutes.
15 ml · ShakenIllegal
A smoky mezcal sour strengthened with overproof rum and layered with falernum and maraschino.
Also needed: mezcal, overproof rum, falernum, maraschino liqueur, and lime juice. 5 minutes.
15 ml · BuiltJohn Collins
A tall sparkling gin sour with fresh lemon, simple syrup, and soda water.
Also needed: gin, lemon juice, and soda water. 4 minutes.
15 ml · ShakenJungle Bird
A carefully balanced shaken classic led by dark rum, with red bitter aperitif and pineapple juice.
Also needed: dark rum, red bitter aperitif, pineapple juice, and lime juice. 5 minutes.
15 ml · ShakenLemon Drop
A carefully balanced shaken classic led by vodka, with triple sec and fresh lemon juice.
Also needed: vodka, triple sec, and lemon juice. 5 minutes.
30 ml · BuiltLong Island Iced Tea
A potent citrus highball combining five spirits, lemon, sugar, and a short cola top.
Also needed: vodka, tequila blanco, white rum, gin, triple sec, lemon juice, and cola. 5 minutes.
22.5 ml · ShakenNew York Sour
A carefully balanced shaken classic led by rye whiskey, with fresh lemon juice and simple syrup.
Also needed: rye whiskey, lemon juice, egg white, and red wine. 5 minutes.
15 ml · MuddledNojito
Fresh mint, lime, and sparkling soda in a crisp alcohol-free cooler.
Also needed: mint, lime juice, and soda water. 5 minutes.
30 ml · ShakenOld Cuban
An elegant aged-rum, mint, lime, and bitters sour lengthened with dry sparkling wine.
Also needed: mint, aged rum, lime juice, aromatic bitters, and sparkling wine. 6 minutes.
7.5 ml · StirredOld Fashioned
Bourbon, bitters, and restrained sweetness with orange oils.
Also needed: bourbon and aromatic bitters. 5 minutes.
10 ml · optional · ShakenPineapple Coconut Cooler
Juicy pineapple, coconut water, and lime with a clean tropical finish.
Also needed: pineapple juice, coconut water, and lime juice. 5 minutes.
15 ml · MuddledPisco Punch
A bright pisco punch with pineapple, lemon, clove, simple syrup, and dry white wine.
Also needed: pisco, pineapple juice, lemon juice, dry white wine, and clove. 6 minutes.
20 ml · ShakenPisco Sour
A silky pisco sour with lemon, simple syrup, egg white, and aromatic bitters.
Also needed: pisco, lemon juice, egg white, and aromatic bitters. 5 minutes.
22.5 ml · ShakenPlanter's Punch
A carefully balanced shaken classic led by dark rum, with fresh lime juice and simple syrup.
Also needed: dark rum, lime juice, aromatic bitters, and soda water. 5 minutes.
30 ml · ShakenRamos Fizz
A luxurious New Orleans gin fizz with citrus, cream, egg white, orange flower water, vanilla, and soda.
Also needed: gin, lime juice, lemon juice, heavy cream, egg white, orange flower water, vanilla extract, and soda water. 8 minutes.
10 ml · ShakenRussian Spring Punch
A bright vodka, lemon, and blackcurrant punch topped with dry sparkling wine.
Also needed: vodka, lemon juice, crème de cassis, and sparkling wine. 5 minutes.
15 ml · ShakenSouth Side
A bright London dry gin sour lifted by fresh mint and lemon.
Also needed: london dry gin, lemon juice, and mint. 5 minutes.
15 ml · ShakenTom Collins
A sparkling gin sour stretched tall with soda water.
Also needed: gin, lemon juice, and soda water. 5 minutes.
20 ml · ShakenWhiskey Sour
Bourbon, lemon, and sweetness with an optional silky foam.
Also needed: bourbon and lemon juice. 7 minutes.
Build your ingredient list
What to mix with simple syrup
These ingredients appear together in the recipes above. Follow the full recipe for quantities and balance.
Lemon Juice
Used with simple syrup in 17 of the linked recipes.
Explore Lemon JuiceGin
Used with simple syrup in 8 of the linked recipes.
Explore GinLime Juice
Used with simple syrup in 7 of the linked recipes.
Explore Lime JuiceSoda Water
Used with simple syrup in 6 of the linked recipes.
Explore Soda WaterAromatic bitters
Used with simple syrup in 5 of the linked recipes.
Explore Aromatic bittersVodka
Used with simple syrup in 4 of the linked recipes.
Explore VodkaQuick answers
Simple Syrup cocktail questions
Which cocktails use simple syrup?
John Collins, Old Fashioned, and Gin Basil Smash use simple syrup. John Collins lists 15 ml for 1 serving. Compare the 25 recipes below for the remaining ingredients and preparation steps.
How much simple syrup do I need for a cocktail?
John Collins lists 15 ml for 1 serving; Old Fashioned lists 7.5 ml for 1 serving; Gin Basil Smash lists 20 ml for 1 serving. Use the amount in your chosen recipe: these examples are different drink specifications, not interchangeable ratios.
What else do I need to make John Collins?
Alongside simple syrup, the required ingredients for John Collins are 45 ml gin, 30 ml lemon juice, and 60 ml soda water. Its built preparation takes about 4 minutes. Open the recipe for optional garnishes and the complete method.
Is simple syrup required or optional?
Simple Syrup is required in 23 of the 25 linked recipes and optional in 2. Optional entries are labeled on the recipe cards; check the preparation note to see their role in that drink.
Evidence
Sources & editorial note
Recipe amounts, preparation notes and ingredient combinations come from Kokto’s dated 100-recipe catalog. Counts cover this published set. Recipes are listed alphabetically; the quick starting point uses preparation time, then required-ingredient count. Taste scores are Kokto’s recipe profiles, not customer ratings. Ingredient combinations describe the linked recipes rather than substitution advice.
- John Collins: quantities, method and source notesCocktail App English editorial catalog B001
- Old Fashioned: quantities, method and source notesCocktail App ingredient and recipe seed v1
- Gin Basil Smash: quantities, method and source notesCocktail App English editorial cocktail batch 60
- Kokto governed 100-recipe catalogIngredient identity, required/optional status, amount and method
- Simple Syrup image source and attributionCocktail App project owner · Project-owned generated original — all rights reserved