Gimlet
Gin and lime, distilled.
One of the most pared-back cocktails there is: gin and lime cordial, shaken and served ice-cold. The sweet citrus of the cordial rounds off the gin without hiding its botanicals.
- Aperitif
- Shaken
- Glass
- Cocktail glass
- Method
- Shaken
- Strength
- Strong
- Time
- 3 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Ice
- No ice
Ingredients
Measures for 1 serving
-
Gin
60 ml
-
Lime cordial
20 ml
Garnish
- Lime slice
Proportions
How to make
- Chill a cocktail glass.
- Pour the gin into the shaker.
- Add the lime cordial.
- Fill the shaker with ice.
- Shake hard.
- Strain into the chilled glass.
- Garnish with a lime wheel.
The story
Origins
LegendA story passed down, not confirmed by the sources.
The Gimlet is tied to the British Navy and to the lime cordial patented in 1867 by Scotsman Lauchlin Rose, who preserved lime juice with sugar instead of alcohol. Tradition says officers mixed it with gin; the name is credited either to naval surgeon Sir Thomas Desmond Gimlette or to the gimlet, the tool used to tap casks, but neither theory is proven. The first printed recipes came from Harry MacElhone in the early 1920s, who called it very popular in the Navy, and from Harry Craddock in The Savoy Cocktail Book of 1930, both in equal parts. Raymond Chandler made it famous in his novel The Long Goodbye (1953).
Sources (6)
- Difford's Guide — Gimlet (Difford's recipe) (opens in a new tab) recipe and history
- Punch — The Gimlet Gets Its Groove Back (opens in a new tab) recipe and history
- Wikipedia — Gimlet (cocktail) (opens in a new tab) recipe and history
- VinePair — Gimlet (opens in a new tab) recipe and history
- Punch — Gimlet recipe (opens in a new tab) recipe
- IBA — All cocktails, page 2 (opens in a new tab) recipe
Taste profile
- Citrus
- 4 out of 5
- Strong
- 4 out of 5
- Sour
- 3 out of 5
- Sweet
- 2 out of 5
