A Gin gimlet has to be my favorite classic cocktail. For a couple of reasons… First, it’s so simple and yet so perfect. That blend of Gin (my most beloved spirit), tart lime and smooth sweetness just fits so perfectly into any imbibing mood I’m in. Second, it’s a genius way to introduce the Gin-averse to the error of their non-Gin-drinking ways. Simply put, it’s the perfect starter Gin cocktail. A gateway drug to the realm of Gin, if-you-will. (Ok, I’ll stop.)
However, when I first started ordering gimlets regularly I was always confused as to why I was paying craft cocktail prices for a half-ass mix of Gin and Rose’s Lime Juice… ?! Well, little did I know, that’s the way Gimlets were (sort-of) traditionally made!
First concocted as a way to encourage sailors to down scurvy-fighting lime juice, Gimlets were a common vehicle for daily Gin rations on British Naval ships. {Popular belief has it that the Royal Navy doctor during that time was Sir Thomas Gimlette.} Sailors quickly switched to Rose’s Lime Cordial – a blend of lime juice and sugar that made it easy to preserve the citrus on long oversea hauls – as it had recently been invented. All this time I’ve been scoffing at what I thought was a shitty excuse for a great classic cocktail when really I’d been drinking history! Sailors, forgive me!
While the Rose’s Lime Juice of today (corn syrup, artificial flavors, weird additives) is a far cry from what it originally was, I suppose the OG recipe is still worth including here. I’ve also added a recipe for what I consider the modern day Gimlet (The Contemporary), and a fun twist on a Vodka Gimlet for those who aren’t quite ready to come over to the Gin side (The Lime Hangar Gimlet). Mix up one of each this holiday weekend (Happy Independence Day!) and let me know which you prefer!
Each recipe makes 1 cocktail.
The Traditional
Ingredients:
- 2 Oz Traditional, London-Dry Style Gin (Tanqueray & Bombay Sapphire are both good staples to have around)
- 1.75 Oz Rose’s Lime Juice or other Lime Cordial
- Lime wheel for garnish, if desired
Directions:
- Pour gin & juice into a cocktail shaker or tall glass
- Shake or stir with ice, whatever your preference
- Strain into a Martini Glass and garnish with lime wheel if desired
The Contemporary
Ingredients:
- 2 Oz Traditional, London-Dry or New American Style Gin (I’m using citrusy Tanqueray No. 10)
- Juice of 1-2 limes
- 1 tsp superfine sugar
- Lime wheel and mint for garnish
Directions:
- Dry shake (no ice) lime juice and sugar for at least 60 seconds to dissolve sugar.
- Add gin, ice and shake.
- Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Alternatively, strain into a chilled coupe.
- Garnish with lime wheel and sprig of mint. (No garnish if you went with the coupe)
Lime Hangar Gimlet (ever so slightly adapted from the famous Ivy Gimlet)
Ingredients:
- 3 oz. Hangar One Kaffir Lime Vodka a.k.a. the only lime vodka you ever need to know about
- Juice of 1 lime
- Juice of ½ a lemon
- 5-10 Mint leaves, muddled
- 1 tsp Superfine sugar
Directions:
- Combine muddled mint, citrus juice and sugar in a cocktail shaker.
- Dry shake (no ice) for at least 60 seconds to completely dissolve sugar.
- Add Vodka, a handful of ice and shake.
- Pour into a sugar rimmed glass filled with crushed or cubed ice and garnish with a wedge of lime and sprig of mint. As an option, top with a splash of seltzer or sparkling water. Enjoy!
Photos by the delightfully talented Megan Burgess of Shortography!
