Coke Recipe

Fill a tall glass with 6 ice cubes.

Pour 12 fl oz of chilled cola over the ice.

Squeeze the lime wedge lightly over the drink and drop the wedge in if desired.

Garnish with a maraschino cherry if using. Serve immediately.

Make a simple syrup base

Combine 1 cup granulated sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves completely. Do not boil vigorously. Remove from heat.

Stir in the brown sugar until dissolved.

Add the vanilla extract, orange zest, lemon zest, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, crushed coriander, crushed star anise (or ground anise), and citric acid (or lemon juice). Stir to combine.

Return saucepan to very low heat for 2–3 minutes to allow the spices and citrus oils to infuse. Do not boil. Remove from heat and let the mixture steep for 20–30 minutes to deepen flavor.

After steeping, strain the syrup through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a clean jar to remove solids. Stir in the caramel color or a pinch of molasses for color if using.

Cool completely, then refrigerate in a sealed container. Syrup will keep 2–3 weeks refrigerated.

Fill a glass with 6 ice cubes.

Add 1 tablespoon of the homemade cola syrup to the glass.

Slowly pour 12 fl oz chilled club soda over the syrup so it mixes gently and retains carbonation.

Squeeze a lime wedge over the drink and drop it in. Stir gently once to combine. Serve immediately.