Orgeat Syrup is a secret weapon in some of the favorite cocktails. It’s easy to make at home and keep in the fridge ready for summer drink making!
Summer is cocktail season. The quality of ingredients can make the difference between a so-so cocktail and a GREAT cocktail.
Often the mixers are what make a cocktail fantastic.
Orgeat syrup is one of those mixer ingredients. It’s easy to make at home too.
After reading this you’ll see how easy it is to make and have a list of great ways to use it too.
What is Orgeat Syrup?
It’s a delicious almond syrup made with almonds, sugar and orange blossom water.
The light mix of almond and orange blossom make a wonderful versatile syrup that are popular in many cocktails.
The most well-known of which is the tropical Mai Tai. But that’s just a start!
How to Pronounce ‘Orgeat’
Have you ever use Orgeat (pronounced or-zha for the French pronunciation or or-zhat) in your home cocktails?
Ingredients in Orgeat Syrup
The ingredients in orgeat are simple and easy to find.
This recipe uses blanched slivered almonds which are already prepared. They create a milky color and subtle flavor.
- Slivered Almonds
- Granulated Sugar
- Water
- Orange Flower Water (also known as Orange Blossom Water)
- Vodka unflavored
If you are in a DIY mood, you can even make your own orange flower water too!
What does Orgeat Taste Like?
It has almond flavor with a bit of a floral flavor from either orange blossom or rose water (one of the two are used).
Since this recipe uses blanched almonds the bitterness found in almond skins is absent.
The flavor is light and delicious.
How to Make Orgeat Syrup – Step by Step
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil, dull side facing up.
- Place the almonds in a single layer on the prepared pan.
- Roast the almonds for 3 minutes, shaking the tray halfway through cooking.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool fully.
- Process through a food processor or blender into small pieces.
- In a small saucepan, combine the sugar and water; bring to a boil over medium-high heat to dissolve the sugar.
- Add the almonds; remove from the heat. Cover and allow to infuse for 3 hours.
- Drain through a fine mesh sieve into a bowl or large liquid measuring cup.
- Stir in the orange blossom water and vodka.
- Pour into jars or bottles, seal and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
How to Store Orgeat
Store sealed in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
NOTE: the syrup will separate while it sits. Just shake the container gently before using to mix together.
Cocktails with Orgeat
The fun begins when fresh Orgeat is in the fridge waiting to be mixed into delicious cocktails!
Here are some to try (click cocktail title for the recipe):
Mai Tai. This classic tropical cocktail is most commonly associated with traveling to Hawaii. No need to board a plane. Whip this up at home for a mini vacation vibe.
Cape Cod Cooler (recipe below). This refreshing sipper combines cranberry, 2 types of gin, lime and orgeat for a perfect summer cocktail.
Scorpion. Another Tiki drink with rum, brandy, citrus juices and orgeat. Blended with crushed ice and it tastes like a tropical vacation.
Japanese Cocktail. A classic cocktail to use orgeat that is simple to make. Cognac, orgeat and bitters.
Fog Cutter. A famous Tiki drink with multiple types of liquor, orgeat, lime and more. This recipe uses simple syrup which is also very easy to make at home.
Bermuda Hundred. If a Mai Tai and a Negroni had a baby…
Planter’s Punch. Rum, orange juice, apple juice and orgeat. Yum.
1001 Cocktails has a collection of cocktails using Orgeat Syrup. It’s a great resource when searching for drinks using a specific ingredient or a specific cocktail too!
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Orgeat Syrup + Cape Cod Cooler cocktail
Orgeat Syrup is a simple syrup using almonds and orange blossom water that is very easy to make at home. This recipes uses blanched almonds creating a milky color and subtle flavor. Orgeat is used in many cocktails including the Cape Cod Cooler perfect for summer sipping! Note: Orgeat will separate as it sits. Just shake before using.
Ingredients
Ingredients for Homemade Orgeat Syrup:
- 2 cups Slivered Almonds
- 1 1/4 cups Granulated Sugar
- 1 1/4 cups Water
- 1 teaspoon Orange Flower Water*
- 1 ounce Vodka unflavored
Ingredients for Cape Cod Cooler cocktails:
- 4 ounces Sloe Gin (may substitute plum brandy if needed)
- 2 ounces Gin
- 1 ounce Lime Juice
- 1 ounce Homemade Orgeat Syrup
- 10 ounces Cranberry Cocktail
- 2 slices fresh Lime (garnish)
Instructions
Instructions for Homemade Orgeat Syrup:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees C. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil, dull side facing up. Place the almonds in one layer on the prepared pan.
Roast the almonds for 3 minutes, shaking the tray halfway through cooking. Remove from the oven and allow to cool fully. Once cooled process through a food processor or blender into small pieces.
In a small saucepan, combine the sugar and water; bring to a boil over medium-high heat to dissolve the sugar. Add the nuts and remove from the heat. Cover and allow to infuse for 3 hours (note: can be infused longer for a deeper flavor but no longer than 12 hours).
Drain through a fine mesh sieve into a bowl or large liquid measuring cup. Stir in the orange blossom water and vodka. Pour into jars or bottles, seal and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Instructions for Cape Cod Cooler cocktails:
Fill two 14 ounce Collins glasses half to ¾ full of crushed ice. Add 2 ounces slow gin, 1 ounce gin, ½ ounce lime juice, ½ ounce orgeat and 5 ounces of cranberry cocktail to a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into one of the prepared glasses. Repeat for the second cocktail. Garnish with a lime slice.
Recipe Notes
*I used Nielsen-Massey Orange Blossom Water.
Originally published: April 18, 2017. This post was originally sponsored by Nielsen-Massey.
Beeb Ashcroft says
April 19, 2017 at 10:27 amI LOVE a good cocktail, especially one I can do on my own. This looks delish!
Michelle Waller says
April 19, 2017 at 8:58 amThis looks very delicious and refreshing. I bet it is good after a warm summer day of being outside.
Tara says
April 19, 2017 at 8:55 amThis cocktail looks absolutely refreshing. I’ll be giving it a try that’s for sure.
Abbe@This is How I Cook says
April 19, 2017 at 7:27 amPerfect cocktail to start the summer. We happen to have orgeat syrup in the fridge, but I’m so happy to now have a recipe for it. Love the stuff and now I don’t have to dread when we run out of it!
Toni Dash says
April 19, 2017 at 8:31 amSounds like this was meant to be for you!
Our Family World says
April 19, 2017 at 1:56 amThis cocktail screams summer! I was reading through the ingredients and I can only imagine how refreshing this would taste! I’m saving your recipe and mix this up when we get to host a BBQ party!
Toni Dash says
April 19, 2017 at 8:32 amI think you’ll love it! It definitely screams summer to me too.
Claudia Krusch says
April 18, 2017 at 8:12 pmI am always looking for new cocktail recipes to try. I wil have to get the ingredients I need to make the Cape Code Cooler.
gingermommyrants says
April 18, 2017 at 8:11 pmThe Cape Code Cooler is going to be great for BBQ season. I have never tried to make my own Orgeat syrup before.
jen T says
April 18, 2017 at 8:04 pmI have no idea how I have never heard of Orgeat!! It sounds incredible and I am going to have it this weekend. (I’m so excited!!)
Jody Arsenault says
April 18, 2017 at 7:19 pmOh my goodness, I need to share this recipe with my friend. She will absolutely love it!
Kristi says
April 18, 2017 at 6:14 pmI can just picture a nice relaxing afternoon on the deck with this drink in hand. The sun shinning down and the green grass in view…. is summer here yet??
Amy says
April 18, 2017 at 5:17 pmI am so intrigued by the inclusion of almonds in this drink’s syrup. I need to try this for the summer.
Kristin says
April 18, 2017 at 5:01 pmYUM! How delicious! This sounds amazing and refreshing.
Jeni Hawkins says
April 18, 2017 at 4:48 pmThis sounds like an amazing cooler! I need to give this one a shot.
Jeanine says
April 18, 2017 at 4:16 pmOh how i love those metal straws. SUPER awesome. This looks really tasty and refreshing. I’m not a big cocktail drinker, but that needs to change!
Toni Dash says
April 18, 2017 at 4:49 pmYou wouldn’t think they make a big difference but I LOVE drinking from them. Everything tastes so much better and cooler (refreshing).
Nancy says
April 18, 2017 at 4:12 pmI am all about making new syrups because I think they make great additions to any cocktail. Can’t wait to try your take on Orgeat Syrup!
Jenna Wood says
April 18, 2017 at 3:40 pmI don’t really drink- but I do like to serve a cocktail when i entertain. This seems like a great warm weather refresher.
Liz Mays says
April 18, 2017 at 2:25 pmThis is such a good choice for the warm weather! It would be very fun to make orgeat syrup to use in drink mixes like this!
Reesa Lewandowski says
April 18, 2017 at 1:39 pmI Have never hard of this syrup before!!! My goodness it sounds amazing and so delicious with this cooler!! I need to make these!
Pam Wattenbarger says
April 18, 2017 at 1:20 pmI had never heard of Orgeat syrup before this! I need to make it and try it out for myself.
Jeanette says
April 18, 2017 at 12:00 pmI have never heard of the Cape Cod cooler myself but the way that looks and what you put into it I know I would love it. I think I’ll be making this on my next girls weekend.
Lisa Favre says
April 18, 2017 at 10:36 amThat cooler is exactly what I need right now! I’ve been getting so (irritably) hot lately, and this drink would surely cool me down.
Jen Rattie says
April 18, 2017 at 10:26 amI have never had a Cape Cod Cooler, but I’m always up for a new cocktail. ALWAYS. I will absolutely be making this bad boy this weekend.
Colleen Lanin says
April 18, 2017 at 10:03 amThat sounds like a wonderful syrup. I can see using it in all kinds of things. Thanks so much!
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
April 18, 2017 at 9:55 amThat sounds wonderful! I’ve made my own syrups before, and I think this is goign to be a great addition to my lineup.
robin rue says
April 18, 2017 at 5:35 amWell considering I live JUST off of cape cod, or as we call it up here – the cape – I think I NEED to try this.