Gimlet
Ingredients
- Gin 2 1/2 oz
- Lime juice 1/2 oz
- Sugar syrup 1/2 oz
- Lime 1
Instructions
Add all the ingredients to a shaker and fill with ice. Shake, and strain into a chilled cocktail glass or an Old Fashioned glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish with a lime wheel.
The Gimlet is a classic cocktail combining gin with fresh lime juice and sugar syrup, shaken and served in a chilled martini glass. The IBA recognizes it as a classic drink, and it is one of the oldest and most enduring simple gin cocktails in the canon. The sugar syrup version has largely supplanted earlier recipes using Rose's lime cordial.
History & Origins
The Gimlet is thought to date to the British Royal Navy of the 19th century, where Surgeon General Sir Thomas Gimlette reportedly began mixing gin with lime juice to encourage sailors to consume their vitamin C rations. The earliest written recipe appears in 'The Savoy Cocktail Book' (1930). The original recipe used bottled Rose's lime cordial; the fresh-lime version is a modern refinement.
Tasting Notes
Aroma: clean juniper and gin botanicals with a sharp, fresh lime citrus and a subtle sweetness from the syrup. Palate: tart and citrus-forward with the lime's natural acidity brightening the gin's botanicals, balanced by just enough sugar syrup sweetness to round the edges. Finish: dry, crisp, and refreshing with a lingering gin and lime character.
Pro Tip
Use freshly squeezed lime juice rather than bottled or cordial for the brightest, most vibrant flavor, and adjust the sugar syrup to taste depending on the acidity of the limes.
Techniques Used
Compare Gimlet
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