Flavored simply syrups add depth of flavor to cocktails, lemonade, teas...really anything you might add a sweetener to. I find the addition of a touch of ginger to a summer cocktail to be a little spicy but a lot refreshing.
Ginger Simple Syrup
1 cup of water
1 cup of sugar
I knot of ginger about 1" x 3"
Use a small paring knife or the side of a spoon to peel the papery exterior from the ginger:
Slice the ginger into thin pieces:
Combine the water, sugar and ginger slices in a small saucepan:
Bring the mixture to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 2-3 minutes. Stir until the sugar is thoroughly dissolved. Remove from heat and allow to steep/cool. Once cool, strain into a clean jar for storage:
The consensus on the interwebs is that syrups can be stored for about a month, but it seems like we use ours up before we have to worry about shelf life.