This classic Gimlet is crisp, refreshing, and perfectly balanced, making it an easy cocktail for happy hour or any special occasion in life.
Whether you’re a cocktail lover or are just looking for an easy signature Drink, this one is sure to hit the spot. For more easy homemade cocktails, try my Whiskey Sour and Tom Collins Recipes.
Why You’ll Love This Gimlet Cocktail?
- Lime juice gives this cocktail the perfect sour and fresh flavor.
- It’s ideal if you’re just getting into making your own drinks and want something easy.
Sabrina’s Gimlet Cocktail Recipe
The Gimlet is a timeless cocktail known for its bright, refreshing flavor and simple, elegant presentation. Its crisp, balanced profile makes it an easy choice for everything from casual happy hours to dinner parties. Whether you’re new to classic cocktails or looking for a reliable favorite, this drink comes together quickly and is best enjoyed ice-cold.
Recipe Card
Ingredients
Simple Syrup:
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup water
To Finish:
- 5 ounces gin
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 2 tablespoons simple syrup
- 1 cup ice
- lime slices , for garnish
Instructions
Simple Syrup:
- In a small saucepan over medium heat dissolve sugar and water by stirring.
- Let cool to room temperature and place in glass with a lid.
- Keep refrigerated.
To Finish:
- Add the gin, lime juice and simple syrup to a shaker with ice.
- Shake vigorously for 10 seconds.
- Strain into 2 cocktail glasses and garnish with lime slice on the edge of each glass.
Nutrition
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Note from Sabrina
Traditionally this cocktail mix is served in a classic coupe glass. Using the elegant cocktail glass makes the refreshing drink look incredible, although you can use a martini glass if you don’t have coupe glasses. If you have enough prep time, putting the glasses in the freezer and using chilled coupe glasses helps keep the cocktail recipe ice cold longer.
Table of contents
About this Recipe
A Gimlet is one of the best drink recipes ever, and definitely my favorite gin cocktail. The easy combination of simple syrup and lime gives it the perfect balance of sweet and sour. Though it’s typically served without ice, you chill the ingredients until they’re ice cold, which makes it a great refreshing drink for the summer.
Ingredients
- Simple syrup: Although you can purchase a bottle of simple syrup at the store, it’s quite easy to make yourself with equal parts water and white sugar.
- Gin: For the base spirit, I’d recommend getting a bottle of dry gin.
- Lime juice: Lime juice gives this cocktail the perfect sour and fresh flavor.
- Garnish: Cut a lime slice to finish the drink with a simple garnish.
Can this be made ahead of time?
Yes, keep the pre-mixed Gimlet Cocktail in an airtight container in the fridge without the ice. With any cocktail that includes citrus ingredients, you don’t want to make them more than a day or two in advance at the most. A bartender may advise against even that much prep since the cocktail will taste its best after it’s freshly mixed. However, if you want to make the drink for a party and don’t want to spend all night making individual glasses, this is a good option.
Pairing Suggestions
You can combine the cocktail ingredients in just a few minutes. So, it’s ideal if you’re just getting into making your own drinks and want something easy. It also makes a good option for a cocktail party because you can mix it together so quickly to serve your guests. For the perfect party appetizer to go with this cocktail drink, be sure to try my Fried Pickles and Shrimp Cocktail Recipe.
How to Store
- Serve: Ideally, you’ll want to make this drink right when you plan to serve it.
- Store: If you plan to make the cocktail recipe in advance, you can make it in a batch ahead of time.
- Freeze: This recipe will not freeze due to the alcohol in it. It is best to make a new batch.
Ideas to Serve
Traditionally this cocktail mix is served in a classic coupe glass. Using the elegant cocktail glass makes the refreshing drink look incredible, although you can use a martini glass if you don’t have coupe glasses. If you have enough prep time, putting the glasses in the freezer and using chilled coupe glasses helps keep the cocktail recipe ice cold longer.
Frequent Questions
According to Chilled Magazine, this classic cocktail came to be out of necessity. In the 1880s, it was essential for sailors to eat or drink enough citrus to avoid scurvy. Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Gimlette in the royal navy got the idea that adding alcohol to lime juice would make it more popular with his sailors. He was quite right. As the cocktail history goes, the drink was first popular with sailors and eventually made its way to the mainland. It’s still called Gimlet for the admiral who created it.
These favorite cocktail menu items are similar in that they’re both made with gin as the base spirit. However, martinis are made with vermouth and typically garnished with a green olive or a lemon twist. On the other hand, a classic gimlet drink is made with simple syrup and lime juice, then garnished with a lime wheel.
Variations
- Vodka gimlet: Although this drink is typically made with gin as the base spirit, you can exchange the gin for vodka if you prefer. I’d recommend using vodka with citrus notes for the best results.
- Gin Mint Gimlet: To make a refreshing Mint Gimlet, you can add ½ cup of fresh mint leaves to the simple syrup mixture while you cook it. Then add the mint-infused simple syrup to your cocktail recipe. You could also infuse the simple syrup with fresh basil or rosemary.
- Cucumber Gimlet: To make a cucumber gimlet, add cucumber wheels to the simple syrup and muddle before adding the syrup to the cocktail.
- Lime cordial: Instead of using simple syrup and freshly-squeezed lime juice, you can add lime juice cordial to the gin. Lime cordial is a sweetened drink made from lime juice, so it acts as a substitute for lime juice and simple syrup.
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