Old Fashioned Sweetener Guide: Demerara, Simple Syrup & More

The sweetener is the most-mistaken ingredient in an Old Fashioned. Use the wrong one and the cocktail reads as a sweetened whiskey on the rocks; use the right one in the right amount and it disappears into the build, leaving you with what tastes like a more complex spirit. This Old Fashioned simple syrup and sweetener guide walks through every option — sugar cube (the heritage method), demerara syrup (the modern default), plain simple syrup, agave, honey, maple — with ratios, technique, and when to reach for each.

For the broader ingredient context (bitters, ice, glassware, garnish), see our Old Fashioned Ingredients Guide.

TL;DR — What Sweetener Should You Use?

Spirit	Best Sweetener	Amount
Rye whiskey	Demerara syrup (2:1 rich)	¼ oz
Bourbon	Demerara syrup, but reduce slightly	⅛ to ¼ oz
Scotch (Highland)	Heather honey syrup (1:1)	¼ oz
Tequila / Mezcal	Agave nectar (light)	¼ oz
Aged rum	Demerara syrup	¼ oz
Maple variation	Pure Grade A Dark maple syrup	¼ oz
Heritage build	Demerara sugar cube + bitters + splash water	1 cube

Default to demerara syrup for any whiskey-based Old Fashioned. Match other sweeteners to the spirit's source (agave for tequila, honey for scotch).

Demerara Syrup: The Modern Default

Demerara syrup — a 2:1 mixture of demerara sugar and water — is what most cocktail bars use today. Demerara is partially refined raw cane sugar with a soft molasses character that complements aged whiskey beautifully. The 2:1 ratio (sometimes called "rich syrup") means you're adding less liquid for the same sweetness, which keeps the cocktail from getting watery.

One batch makes about 2 cups of syrup, enough for ~120 drinks at ¼ oz per cocktail.

Where to Buy Demerara Sugar

Available at most well-stocked grocery stores in the baking aisle. Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, and amazon all carry it. Look for "demerara" or "turbinado" — both work. Avoid "raw cane sugar" as a generic label; the crystal size varies and the flavor isn't consistent.

Buying Pre-Made Demerara Syrup

If you'd rather skip making your own:

• Liber & Co. Demerara Gum Syrup — gum arabic-stabilized, restaurant-grade. ~$15/12 oz, lasts 6 months opened.
• Pratt Standard Demerara Syrup — small-batch, slightly thicker.
• BG Reynolds Demerara Syrup — affordable, widely available.

The Heritage Sugar-Cube Method

The 1880s build called for a single sugar cube saturated with bitters in the bottom of a glass, muddled with a splash of water until dissolved. The result is a slightly textured, less-uniformly-sweet cocktail — some bartenders consider that a feature.

Cube Type	Verdict
Domino-style refined white	The standard. Dissolves easily.
Demerara sugar cube	Upgrade — adds molasses note. Find at specialty stores.
Brown sugar cube	Workable but less common; slightly bitter from molasses.
"Old Fashioned cube" (pre-bittered, sometimes flavored)	Skip — flavored cubes are gimmicky and inconsistent.

For full step-by-step technique on the heritage method (including pressure, dwell time, common mistakes), see our How to Muddle for an Old Fashioned guide.

Plain Simple Syrup (1:1)

Standard simple syrup — 1:1 white sugar and water — is the workaround when you don't have demerara on hand. It works, but it's noticeably flatter than demerara because plain refined sugar lacks any molasses character.

If you use 1:1 simple syrup in an Old Fashioned, bump the pour to ⅓ oz instead of ¼ oz to compensate for the lower sugar concentration. The drink will still read slightly thinner than the demerara version.

Best use cases for plain simple syrup in Old Fashioned-family cocktails:

• Aged gin Old Fashioneds — the gin's botanicals don't need the molasses note
• Japanese whisky builds — restraint is the point; plain syrup matches
• Quick weekday builds when you don't want to make rich syrup

Old Fashioned Simple Syrup Recipe

Simple syrup couldn't be simpler. Two ingredients, one technique:

1. Combine 1 cup white sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepan.
2. Warm over low heat just until dissolved.
3. Cool. Bottle. Refrigerate. Keeps about 3 weeks.

For more detailed simple-syrup variations (gum syrup, vanilla syrup, spiced syrup), the same base method applies — just add the flavoring agent during the dissolve step and strain after cooling.

Agave Nectar: For Tequila & Mezcal Old Fashioneds

Match the sweetener to the spirit's source agriculture. Tequila and mezcal are made from agave; the cocktail integrates better when the sweetener is also agave-derived.

Use light agave nectar (not raw or amber). ¼ oz per drink, same as demerara would be in a rye build. The two ingredients harmonize — agave nectar is essentially the spirit's sweet form, so the build reads as a single thing rather than two competing.

For the full Tequila Old Fashioned recipe and bottle picks, see our Tequila Old Fashioned guide.

Honey Syrup: For Scotch & Irish Whiskey

Scotch (especially Highland and Speyside) and Irish whiskey both share floral, malty notes that pair beautifully with honey. Plain refined sugar fights those notes; honey amplifies them.

How to Make Honey Syrup

1. Combine 1 cup honey and 1 cup hot water (not boiling).
2. Stir until fully integrated. Don't heat further — high temperature dulls honey's flavor.
3. Cool, bottle, refrigerate. 1 month shelf life.

For an Old Fashioned built with scotch, replace the demerara with ¼ oz honey syrup. Use heather honey or wildflower for the most floral character; clover honey works but is more neutral.

Maple Syrup: The Rye + Maple Pairing

Maple syrup is the rare sweetener that doesn't fight rye whiskey — it amplifies it. Both share caramelized sugar, vanilla, and toasted oak notes. Sub maple for demerara in an Old Fashioned and you don't get a "maple-flavored cocktail" — you get a richer, deeper version of the original.

Use Grade A Dark (formerly "Grade B") or Grade A Very Dark for the most flavor. Avoid pancake syrup or table syrup blends. ¼ oz per drink.

For the full maple recipe and brand picks, see our Maple Old Fashioned guide.

Specialty Sweeteners Worth Knowing

Sweetener	Best Application	Amount
Brown sugar syrup (1:1 brown:water)	Bourbon Old Fashioneds for fall	¼ oz
Cinnamon-infused demerara	Holiday Old Fashioneds	¼ oz
Vanilla-infused demerara	Soft, dessert-leaning builds	¼ oz
Smoked vanilla cherry cane sugar	Premium gift-build Old Fashioneds — see our Smoked Vanilla Cherry Cane Sugar	1 spoonful or sprinkle
Coconut sugar syrup	Tropical or rum builds	¼ oz
Date syrup	Middle-Eastern variation Old Fashioneds	⅛ oz (very sweet)

Sugar Math: How Much Sweetener?

Across all sweetener types, the cocktail wants between 0.05 and 0.07 oz of actual sugar per drink. Different sweeteners deliver different sugar concentrations, so the volume varies:

Sweetener	Sugar Density	Old Fashioned Pour
Demerara syrup (2:1)	Higher (rich)	¼ oz
Plain simple syrup (1:1)	Lower	⅓ oz
Sugar cube	Pure sugar	1 cube (≈ ½ tsp)
Honey syrup (1:1)	~78% sugar	¼ oz
Pure maple syrup	~67% sugar	¼ oz
Agave nectar (light)	~75% sugar	¼ oz

The default ¼ oz works for most rich syrups. For 1:1 simple syrup, bump to ⅓ oz. For specialty sweeteners (date syrup at near-pure, or honey at very thick), adjust to taste.

Storing Sweeteners

Sweetener	Shelf Life	Refrigerate?
Demerara syrup (homemade)	3–4 weeks	Yes, after opening
Demerara syrup (commercial, gum arabic)	6 months	Yes, after opening
Simple syrup (1:1)	2–3 weeks	Yes
Honey syrup	1 month	Yes
Maple syrup (sealed)	1+ year	After opening, yes
Agave nectar (commercial)	2 years	Optional — shelf-stable
Sugar cubes	1+ year	No

Watch for cloudy syrup or off-smell — that's the cue to discard. Adding 1 oz of vodka per cup of syrup as a preservative extends shelf life by 50% (this is the "gum syrup" trick used by historical bartenders).

Building the Setup

The minimum sweetener kit:

• 1 lb demerara sugar (~$5)
• 1 small saucepan
• 1 glass bottle for the syrup (~$5 or repurpose a clean liquor bottle)
• Big Jig Double Jigger — for ¼ oz pour precision
• Trident Cocktail Spoon — for stirring

For the heritage sugar-cube method, add a Stainless Steel Muddler and a box of demerara sugar cubes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best simple syrup for an Old Fashioned?

A 2:1 demerara syrup is the gold standard — partially refined raw cane sugar gives the cocktail soft molasses notes that complement aged whiskey. Plain 1:1 simple syrup works in a pinch but reads slightly thinner. Use ¼ oz of demerara syrup or ⅓ oz of plain simple syrup per drink.

How do you make Old Fashioned simple syrup?

Combine 2 cups demerara sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepan, warm over low heat just until dissolved (don't boil), cool, bottle, and refrigerate. Lasts about a month. Use ¼ oz per cocktail. For plain simple syrup, swap to 1:1 white sugar and water.

Demerara vs simple syrup: what's the difference?

Demerara syrup uses partially refined raw cane sugar, which has soft molasses character. Simple syrup uses fully refined white sugar, which is neutral. Demerara complements aged whiskey better; simple syrup is cleaner and works for clear-spirit variations. Most cocktail bars default to demerara.

Can you use sugar cubes in an Old Fashioned?

Yes — that's the heritage build. Place one cube in the glass, saturate with bitters, add a splash of water, muddle until dissolved. Some bartenders prefer the slightly textured result over syrup. See our muddle guide for technique.

How much simple syrup do you put in an Old Fashioned?

¼ oz of rich demerara syrup (2:1) per 2 oz of whiskey. If using plain 1:1 simple syrup, bump to ⅓ oz to compensate for the lower sugar density. For wheated bourbons, drop demerara to ⅛ oz — the corn already brings sweetness.

Can you make an Old Fashioned with honey?

Yes — especially with scotch or Irish whiskey. Make a 1:1 honey syrup (cup of honey, cup of warm water, stir until smooth), use ¼ oz per drink. Heather honey or wildflower for floral character, clover for neutral. Don't use raw honey straight — the viscosity is too high to integrate.

Does the type of sugar in an Old Fashioned really matter?

Yes. The sugar is the second-loudest flavor in the glass after the spirit. Demerara adds molasses; honey adds floral; maple adds caramel-and-vanilla; agave matches tequila. Plain refined white sugar is neutral but flatter than any of those alternatives.

Can you make a sugar-free Old Fashioned?

Technically yes — just whiskey, bitters, and ice. But you're left with a sweetened whiskey on the rocks rather than an Old Fashioned. The sugar isn't optional in the recipe; it counterbalances bitters and alcohol astringency. For a less-sweet drink, halve the syrup (⅛ oz) instead of omitting.

More Workshop sub-guides: Best Bitters for Old Fashioned · Best Old Fashioned Glass · How to Make Clear Ice · How to Muddle · Full Ingredients Guide