Cocktails with Agave syrup
Agave syrup, also sold as agave nectar, is a liquid sweetener made from the concentrated sap of the agave plant — the same plant behind tequila and mezcal.
Substitutes for Agave syrup
Simple syrup covers the sweetness if you don’t mind losing the earthy note, but it is noticeably less sweet and you will need more — add half a barspoon at a time and taste. Honey syrup is the closest for flavor, floral and warm though thicker, while cane syrup stands in with a deeper molasses edge.
Often confused with
Agave nectar
Two names, one product. "Nectar" is marketing rather than a category, so read the sugar figures and ignore the word. Nothing needs adjusting between them.
Light and dark agave syrup
Light is filtered and close to neutral; dark is less processed and carries a caramel edge that shows in a stirred drink. They swap volume-for-volume, but only the dark one is audible.
Storage
Agave syrup keeps for a year or more in the cupboard and does not crystallize the way honey does. It darkens slowly once opened, which costs it nothing but looks.
