Gimlet
Gin, lime and sugar, shaken and served up. Sharp, clean and quick to make.
Shaken · Coupe · Medium · about 3 minutes · about 20% ABV
Ingredients
- 60 ml Gin
- 20 ml Fresh lime juice
- 15 ml Sugar syrup
- Lime wheel (garnish)
Method
- Chill the glass
- Pour 60 ml gin into the shaker
- Add 20 ml fresh lime juice
- Pour 15 ml sugar syrup into the shaker
- Add ice
- Shake hard
- Strain
- Garnish
Tip
Navy-strength gin makes a bolder Gimlet if you have it.
About the Gimlet
The Gimlet is linked to the British Royal Navy, which made sailors drink lime juice to prevent scurvy. In 1867 Lauchlin Rose patented preserved lime cordial, and gin and Rose's became the classic mix. One story names it after naval surgeon Thomas Gimlette.
The sour family. Sours are one of the oldest mixed-drink families. Spirit, citrus and sugar go back to the punches British sailors and traders drank in the 1600s and 1700s, and Jerry Thomas printed sour recipes in the first American bartending book in 1862. Egg white came later, for a silky foam. Almost every classic with fresh citrus, from the Daiquiri to the Whiskey Sour, follows this pattern.
Gimlet FAQ
What's in a Gimlet?
60 ml gin, 20 ml fresh lime juice, 15 ml sugar syrup, garnished with lime wheel.
How strong is a Gimlet?
About 20% ABV once mixed with ice, which is 1.9 Australian standard drinks per serve. That is stronger than a glass of wine.
Should I shake or stir a Gimlet?
Shake it. citrus, juice and cream need shaking to mix properly and gain a light, lively texture.
What glass do you serve a Gimlet in?
A coupe, about 180 ml. Chill the glass first and serve without ice. No coupe? Use a martini glass or small wine glass.
