How to Make a Gimlet
The Gimlet is one of the cleanest gin sours in existence. Gin, lime, sweetener. That is all it needs. The drink should taste brisk and direct, with the lime in front and the gin close behind. A bad Gimlet tastes sugary or flat. A good one feels like a straight line from cold glass to sharp finish.
Ingredients
Use a dry gin with enough structure to keep the lime from flattening it.
Fresh lime gives the drink life. This is a cocktail that really suffers from old citrus.
Keep it tight. The drink should read tart before it reads sweet.
Instructions
- 1
Shake all ingredients with ice until well chilled.
Shake until the drink is fully cold and integrated. Short shakes make hollow Gimlets.
- 2
Strain into a chilled coupe glass.
Strain into a chilled coupe for the cleanest presentation.
- 3
Garnish with a lime wheel.
Lime wheel garnish is enough. This is a minimalist drink.
Bartender Tips
- ★If the guest likes Martinis but wants citrus, send them here.
- ★A Gimlet should finish drier than a lot of bars make it.
- ★The better the gin, the more disciplined the lime and syrup need to be.
Variations
Vodka Gimlet
Use vodka if the guest wants a cleaner and less botanical profile. Perfectly valid, just less distinctive.
Basil Gimlet
A little basil can add garden freshness if used with restraint.
Cordial Gimlet
The old-school style uses lime cordial instead of fresh lime and syrup. Sweeter, more retro, still beloved by some bartenders.
Why the Gimlet Endures
The Gimlet endures because it is simple without being boring. It sits at the meeting point of sour and Martini drinking, which makes it useful on menus and behind the stick. It is also one of the easiest ways to show that gin and lime can be as elegant as gin and vermouth when the balance is right.
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