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.
Taste profile
Cleanly sweet, but not neutral: agave carries a mild, earthy, honey-like warmth. It's gentler than honey and rounder than plain sugar, which is why it flatters tequila and mezcal rather than competing with them.
How it's used
Agave is the classic sweetener for tequila and mezcal drinks — it makes a Tommy's Margarita in place of triple sec, and rounds out Palomas, mezcal sours and smoky margaritas. It's thicker and sweeter than simple syrup, so use a little less; it still dissolves easily in cold, shaken drinks. Bartenders sometimes thin it with water to dose it just like simple syrup, but you can pour it straight.
Substitutes for Agave syrup
Simple syrup covers the sweetness if you don't mind losing the earthy note; use a bit more, since it's less sweet. Honey syrup is the closest for flavour — floral and warm, though thicker — while cane syrup stands in with a deeper molasses edge.
Description
The sap is filtered and concentrated into a pourable syrup. It's sweeter than table sugar, high in fructose, and thinner than honey but thicker than simple syrup. Unlike granulated sugar, it dissolves straight into cold drinks.
