The subtle almond flavor occasionally encountered when supping down a classic cocktail is down to the inclusion of Orgeat syrup in the recipe.
Orgeat, pronounced or-zhaat, is a sweet syrup made from almonds, sugar, and either rosewater or orange flower water. It is used to enhance many classic cocktails, particularly tiki drinks.
The almond syrup’s sweetness and rich nutty aroma can help elevate your homemade tropical cocktail to the next level.
Whether you opt for a store-bought bottle or knock out a batch in your own kitchen, the next time you mix up some mai tais, be sure to have this nutty little syrup on hand.
What Is Orgeat Syrup Mixer?
Making cocktails involves many other ingredients aside from spirits and standard mixers. Mixologists also use a range of syrups in their cocktail recipes, and Orgeat is counted among them.
In its most basic form, it’s essentially an almond extract or an almond syrup, as that’s the main ingredient, and it’s the subtle almond flavor that adds to the cocktail’s overall flavor.
While it appears in many classic cocktail recipes, it’s the syrup’s inclusion in the mai tai recipe that leads to many discovering the delightful flavor of this almond extract. But mai tais are not alone in benefiting from the flavor of the sweet almond liquid. It often crops up in tiki drinks, with the almond flavor complementing the rums nicely.
Aside from cocktails, you can use Orgeat syrup to add a more complex flavor to coffee drinks too. For an iced coffee with an added almond flavor, simply stir a tablespoon or so of the almond extract into your brewed coffee as an alternative to using almond milk.
Where To Buy Orgeat Syrup Mixers
You shouldn’t have too much difficulty tracking down a bottle. It’s a bartender’s staple, and you should be able to find a bottle at Target or Walmart. Alternatively, you can easily source it from online retailers, and below is a selection of those currently offered:
5 Best Orgeat Syrups
Small Hand Foods
A rich, flavorsome syrup made from Californian almonds and apricot kernels, which imparts delicate floral notes. This milky white Orgeat is the perfect addition to tropical cocktails, such as the Mai Tai.
There’s a subtle hint of marzipan, which makes it an equally delicious addition to coffee.
This bottle also looks nice on your bar. It lends a modern design while still being elegant and reminiscent of the prohibition period.
Master of Mixes
This sweet and subtle syrup made from craft ingredients, including pure cane sugar and premium almond flavoring, is a must-have for all Tiki cocktail lovers.
In addition to the pure ingredients, Master of Mixes comes in an easy-to-handle plastic squeeze bottle. It’s a no-fuss bottle that minimizes messy spills.
Torani
With a sweet almond flavor and enticing nutty aroma, Torani’s Orgeat is equally at home in a mai tai as in a hot coffee.
Torani is a well-known brand that is found in many bars and coffee shops. Their almond syrup stands up to the brand’s nearly 5-star reputation.
Collins
Collins Orgeat Almond Syrup adds a nutty depth to your cocktail recipes and is made from real sugar and packed with the taste of sweet almonds.
Whether you’re making an original Mai Tai, the classic Fog Cutter, or just want to add a little almond bliss to your soda water, this is a smooth, perfectly flavored Orgeat.
Monin
Add true almond flavor to hot or cold coffee drinks and specialty cocktails with this sweet and nutty Florida-made syrup. Monin Orgeat is perfect for any drink that calls for a hint of almond flavor.
If you’re not concerned about using actual Orgeat, Monin also offers almond syrup, although it’s a bit sweeter.
How To Make Orgeat Syrup Mixer
If you have a little time on your hands, you can also make a batch of homemade Orgeat syrup with minimal fuss. The recipe is pretty straightforward, similar to making simple syrup, and its ingredient list is not too long. For the basic Orgeat recipe, you will need the following ingredients:
- 2 cups raw almonds
- 2 cups warm water
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 teaspoon orange flower water
In addition to these ingredients, other recipes add two tablespoons of brandy and a quarter teaspoon of citric acid for more flavor, although these are optional additions.
The first step is to prepare the almonds. Some prefer blanched almonds, although using roasted almonds with the skin on under medium heat adds a little more color to the final product.
Add the cool almonds to a blender or food processor to grind coarsely.
Next, warm the water over medium-high heat, and allow the ground almonds to soak in the warm water for a couple of hours. The longer you allow the ground almonds to steep, the stronger the flavor of the syrup.
Then, strain the liquid from the mixture using a fine-mesh strainer, cheesecloth, or even coffee filters. Squeeze until all the liquid has been extracted and the leftover almonds are pretty much dry.
Warm this strained liquid over low heat in a saucepan, and then add the sugar, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
Remove from heat and then strain this liquid again, and then add the orange flower water. If you have opted to also add the brandy and citric acid, you can add those now too.
You can then bottle and store it in the fridge. Just remember to give the bottle a shake before adding it to your cocktail mix. And that’s how you can make homemade Orgeat.
If you add the liquor and acid, the shelf life will be two months. Without those preservatives, use them within one week.
Nutrition Facts
Per serving, it contains around 270 calories and gives you 1% of the fat required in your daily diet. This general nutrition advice is based on a 2,000 daily calorie intake.
(Nutrition information is calculated by an ingredient database and should be considered approximate)
FAQs
What can I use in place of Orgeat syrup?
If you’re looking to introduce a nutty flavor to your cocktails but don’t have Orgeat at hand, you could add the almond flavor by adding amaretto, crème de noyaux, or crème d’amade.
Orzata syrup, which is an Italian almond syrup containing no alcohol, also makes a great cocktail mixer.
What does Orgeat syrup taste like?
Orgeat is a sweet cocktail syrup made from almonds and sugar and augmented with flavors like citrus or floral essences like rosewater and orange flower water. The result is an aromatic syrup with an almond flavor, akin to liquid marzipan, that is used in cocktails and coffees.
Is Orgeat the same as amaretto?
No. Amaretto is a sweet Italian liqueur that originated in Saronno. Depending on the brand, it may be made from apricot kernels, bitter almonds, peach stones, almonds, or other nuts.
Orgeat is a non-alcoholic syrup made from almonds, sugar, and a little orange flower water or rosewater. It was originally made with a barley-almond blend, and its name came from the French word for barley, orge.
What kind of liquor is Orgeat?
Orgeat is a non-alcoholic syrup used to add artificial flavors to drinks. It is not a liquor but a sweet syrup made from almonds.
You can add alcohol when making your own, with some adding a tablespoon or two of brandy for extra flavor.
Key Takeaways
- Orgeat is an almond-flavored syrup used to add almonds to many classic cocktail recipes.
- You can purchase it online easily, and you should be able to find it in grocery stores.
- Alternatively, making your own batch of good stuff at home is not difficult.
- Next time you’re in the mood for whipping up some mai tais, have your new favorite cocktail ingredient on hand!
