A Gimlet is in the Lime Light.
Here is how to mix the PERFECT one.
Ingredients:
-
2 oz Hendrick’s Gin
-
2/3 oz Lime juice (fresh)
-
Ice
Preparation:
Slice and squeeze many limes. (The more the better – I always say) Then –
Method One (high road): In a shaker filled 3/4 of the way with ice, combine gin and juice and shake vigorously. Strain into a cocktail glass.
Method Two (low road as shown above): No shaker, just a plastic cup for the beach. Add your desired amount of ice, combine gin and fresh lime juice.
The Savoy Cocktail Book (1930) proposes a stirred mixture of half gin and half Rose’s lime juice back in the day. Later versions swapped vodka as the base and replaced sweetened lime juice with the fresh stuff. The improvisation doesn’t have to stop there — once you’ve mastered the classic Gimlet, try a few recipe modifications:
Cucumber Gimlet
Adapted from Epicurious
2 large cucumbers
1/2 cup gin
4 teaspoons lime juice
1 tablespoon simple syrup (I get mine at Trader Joe’s)
Lime wedges, for garnish
Peel and cut cucumbers, place in a food processor or blender and puree until smooth. Mix 1 cup cucumber juice, lime juice, and simple sugar in a shaker filed 3/4 with ice. Shake vigorously, strain into cocktail glasses.
Basil Gimlet
2 oz gin
4 pieces fresh basil
2/3 oz fresh lime juice
Ice
In a mixing glass, muddle basil in lime juice. Add ice and gin. Shake vigorously, strain into cocktail glasses.
Kathleen
Debra says
Love it!! The basil gimlet sounds especially intriguing. Is it 5:00pm yet??
JMZmom says
Started making those for my mom and dad when I was little – can’t stand gin now! My parents favorite cocktail for 47 years of marriage (although they prefer Beefeaters or Bombay Sapphire or Tanqueray)!
Lynne McCartney says
I used to make them for my mother with the vodka and roses lime water, my dad’s drink was bourbon and water. At that time I thought I wanted to be a bartender as when they had company I could earn $.25 per drink made!!