If you're a flavor fanatic and beverage buff, you should get familiar with simple syrup, the easy-to-make sweetening solution that elevates even the blandest drinks. You may not be well-versed in the simple syrup syllabus if you're not a bartender or an expert mixologist, but it's easy to get up to speed. Simple syrup is a liquid sweetener made by dissolving granulated sugar in an equal amount of water. At its most basic, it's just sugar and water.