Simple Syrup is a principal ingredient in many cocktails. It is basically sugar water.
If you’re watching the calories, substituting Stevia Simple Syrup for the sugar version can help. Stevia is a zero-calorie, plant-based sweetener that’s supposed to be many times as sweet as sugar. You’ll have to make your own judgments about the health benefits or detriments of Stevia, but I have found that a Stevia Simple Syrup works for me in most cocktails.
Of course, the liquors contain so many calories that a zero calorie simple syrup may just be a drop in the bucket.
Here is the recipe I use:
Heat two cups of water to boiling. Add 1/4 cup of powdered stevia. Stir. Let cool.
That’s it. I then use it exactly as called for in cocktail recipes. If it seems too sweet (or not sweet enough) you can monkey with the ratios. I think that it is likely that different brands may contain more or less of the actual sweetener in proportion to volume.