GIN GIMLET
-
2 oz gin
-
¾ oz lime juice
-
¾ oz simple syrup
Method
-
Combine all ingredients in a chilled mixing glass.
-
Fill with ice, shake for 8-10 seconds.
-
Strain into a chilled coupe/martini glass OR in a rocks glass over fresh ice.
-
Garnish with lime wheel - optional
VODKA GIMLET
The gin gimlet came first since vodka didn't make it to the US until the 1930s. For a vodka gimlet just use the above recipe and replace the gin with vodka, keeping the same proportions.
RECIPE
STORY & NOTES
This simple, sharp and refreshing classic is a quintessential example of a basic sour: which is just a spirit, citrus and sugar or simple syrup. The Gimlet is also a great template, you can add almost any flavor to it and it'll work like a charm. Like muddling, mint, basil or a strawberry. It's one of the few drinks that I don't have a preference on glassware. It's great both straight up or on the rocks.
Rose's Lime Juice
You may have seen gimlet recipes calling for Rose's Lime Juice, which is a preserved and sweetened lime cordial made from lime concentrate and high fructose cornsyrup. Some people claim that without Rose's, it's not a gimlet. But I disagree. The reason Rose’s became a thing is because sailors used to add lime juice to their gin to prevent scurvy, and since limes go bad, they preserved it with sugar (which certainly made it taste better too).
So someone went into business selling preserved lime juice and one hundred years later, we have this synthetic product listed in cocktails recipes. Not only is a Gimlet worlds better with fresh lime juice, but I’m pretty sure if sailors had access to fresh lime, they would have preferred it in their gimlets too. If you're still a stickler, you can this a Gin Sour, if you must.
