In a small saucepan, combine ½ cup sugar, ½ cup water, and 4 sprigs of fresh thyme. Stir gently and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Simmer for about 5 minutes, until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool before straining.

Juice a lemon to yield 1 oz of fresh lemon juice. Strain it through a fine mesh sieve to remove seeds.

In a cocktail shaker, mix 2 tablespoon of fig jam, 2 oz of gin, 1 oz of lemon juice, and 1 oz of thyme syrup. Stir vigorously until smooth.

Fill two glasses with clear ice. Pour the mixture over the ice using a fine mesh strainer.

Top each glass with 3 oz of sparkling water, stirring gently to combine, and garnish with a sprig of thyme.