Spruce tip syrup: the ingredient that tastes like the Nordic forest
Spruce tip syrup has a fresh green aroma with hints of citrus, resin, and evergreen. In cocktails it works as both sweetener and flavor booster, making it a simple upgrade for everything from bubbly spritzes to classic sours.
When to harvest spruce tips
Spruce tips are best when they’re soft, pale green, and tender. The season is short and usually falls in late spring to early summer, depending on climate and location.
Pick gently and take a little from several trees rather than a lot from one. Avoid taking the very top growth and be careful not to damage the tree.
Easy stovetop spruce tip syrup recipe
This method gives you a stable syrup that’s easy to measure in drinks.
Ingredients
4 cups spruce tips (light green and tender)
4 cups water
4 cups sugar (white or raw)
1–2 strips lemon peel or 1 tbsp lemon juice (optional)
Method
Rinse the spruce tips quickly and let them drain.
Bring the water to a boil, add the spruce tips, then reduce to a gentle simmer for 10–15 minutes.
Strain the liquid and return it to the pot.
Add the sugar and simmer on low heat until fully dissolved and slightly thickened, about 5–10 minutes.
Add lemon peel or lemon juice if you want extra brightness.
Pour into a clean bottle or jar. Store in the fridge.
Bar tip
For fizzy drinks, keep the syrup slightly lighter so it blends instantly. For stirred cocktails (Old Fashioned style), a slightly richer syrup works better.
Flavor pairings that work every time
Spruce tip + lemon/lime
Spruce tip + gin (juniper meets evergreen)
Spruce tip + sparkling wine (dry bubbles balance sweetness)
Spruce tip + whiskey (sours and stirred cocktails)
Spruce tip + ginger (mules and highballs)
Spruce tip + apple (fresh, great for zero-proof drinks)
10 drinks to make with spruce tip syrup
All recipes are for 1 drink.
1) Spruce Tip Spritz
1.5 oz spruce tip syrup
3.5 oz prosecco (or dry alcohol-free sparkling)
1.5 oz soda water
Build over ice in a large glass. Stir gently.
2) Spruce Gin & Tonic
1.5 oz gin
0.5–0.75 oz spruce tip syrup
4–5 oz tonic water
Build over ice and stir lightly.
3) Forest Collins
1.5 oz gin
0.75 oz lemon juice
0.75 oz spruce tip syrup
Soda water
Shake gin, lemon, and syrup with ice. Strain into a tall glass with ice and top with soda.
4) Spruce Mule
1.5 oz vodka or gin
0.75 oz lime juice
0.75 oz spruce tip syrup
4–5 oz ginger beer
Build over ice. Add a lime wedge if you like.
5) Spruce Whiskey Sour
2 oz bourbon or rye
1 oz lemon juice
0.75 oz spruce tip syrup
Egg white (optional)
Shake hard with ice (dry shake first if using egg white). Strain into a coupe or over fresh ice.
6) Nordic 75
1.5 oz gin
0.75 oz lemon juice
0.5–0.75 oz spruce tip syrup
Dry sparkling wine
Shake gin, lemon, and syrup with ice. Strain into a flute and top with sparkling wine.
7) Forest Old Fashioned
2 oz bourbon or rye
0.25–0.5 oz spruce tip syrup (start low)
2 dashes bitters (optional)
Stir with ice, strain over a large cube. Adjust syrup to taste.
8) Spruce Paloma Twist
1.5 oz tequila
0.75 oz spruce tip syrup
0.75 oz lime juice
Grapefruit soda
Build over ice and top with grapefruit soda.
9) Zero-proof: Spruce & Citrus Fizz
1 oz spruce tip syrup
0.75 oz lemon juice
4–5 oz soda water
Build over ice and stir. A tiny pinch of salt can lift the flavor.
10) Zero-proof: Apple & Forest Highball
0.75–1 oz spruce tip syrup
5 oz dry apple juice/cider
Soda water (optional)
Build over ice and stir gently.
How to make these drinks taste “bar-level”
Use citrus zest: express lemon peel over the glass right before serving for a stronger aroma.
Balance sweetness: spruce tip syrup intensity can vary, so start with less and adjust.
Choose dry mixers: tonic, ginger beer, and dry sparkling keep the drinks crisp and grown-up.
Storage and shelf life
Store spruce tip syrup in the fridge and always use clean tools. If it turns cloudy, starts fermenting, or smells yeasty, discard and make a fresh batch.
