1Add 2 cups brown sugar to a medium saucepan and heat over medium heat, watching closely until the edges just begin to melt, about 3 to 5 minutes.
2As soon as the sugar starts melting, pour in 1 cup water and stir continuously until all the sugar is fully dissolved and the mixture is smooth.
3Add the 6 citrus peel strips, 1 cup frozen cherries, 1 cinnamon stick, 2 tsp peppercorns, fresh ginger, 1/4 tsp cardamom, 1/4 tsp cloves, and 1/4 tsp nutmeg. Stir to combine.
4Increase heat to medium-high and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the syrup is slightly thickened and coats the back of a spoon, about 8 to 10 minutes.
5Remove from heat promptly — syrup thickens significantly as it cools, so pull it off while it still looks a little thin.
6Strain through a fine mesh sieve into a clean jar or bottle, discarding the solids. Let cool completely before using.
7To serve, add 1 tablespoon of syrup to a glass of ice and top with sparkling water. Stir and adjust to taste.
Ingredients
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup water
6 strips orange, lemon, and lime peel
1 cup frozen cherries
1 cinnamon stick
2 tsp whole peppercorns
1 small piece fresh ginger
0.25 tsp ground cardamom
0.25 tsp ground cloves
0.25 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tablespoon sparkling water
ice
Equipment
medium saucepanfine mesh sievejar or bottleglass
Tips
Don’t skip the fine mesh sieve, it keeps the syrup smooth and clean with no spice bits floating around.
Remove from heat promptly — syrup thickens significantly as it cools, so pull it off while it still looks a little thin.