Classic Gimlet
The gimlet is one of the most approachable classic cocktails out there. You don't need any special bartending skills to pull it off beautifully. It comes together in about two minutes using pantry-friendly staples.
Equipment
- Cocktail shaker - Boston or cobbler style
- Hawthorne strainer
- Jigger - for precise measuring
- Citrus juicer - handheld reamer or mexican press
- Coupe glass - or martini glass, chilled
- Cutting board - for garnish
- Paring knife - for garnish
Ingredients
- 2 oz London Dry Gin - 60ml
- 0.75 oz fresh lime juice - 22ml, from about 1 medium lime
- 0.75 oz simple syrup - 22ml, or to taste
- Ice - for shaking
- lime wheel - or lime twist, for garnish
Instructions
- Chill your coupe or martini glass in the freezer for 5 minutes or fill with ice water while preparing.
- Cut the lime in half across the equator and juice using a citrus press or reamer. Strain out any seeds.
- Measure 2 oz gin, ¾ oz fresh lime juice, and ¾ oz simple syrup into your cocktail shaker.
- Add ice to fill the shaker about two-thirds full, seal tightly, and shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds until frosty.
- Discard ice water from the chilled glass, strain the cocktail through the Hawthorne strainer into the glass.
- Garnish with a lime wheel on the rim or a lime twist expressing the oils, and serve immediately.
Notes
- Always use fresh lime juice — bottled juice has preservatives and lacks the bright flavor that defines a great gimlet.
- Chill your glass thoroughly in the freezer or with ice water; a warm glass ruins the drinking experience.
- Shake hard and long — 10 to 15 seconds of vigorous shaking aerates the lime juice and creates a frothy, well-integrated drink.
- Use large, fresh ice cubes in the shaker; small or crushed ice melts too quickly and over-dilutes the cocktail.
- Limes vary in tartness; taste and adjust with a touch more syrup or lime juice to find your perfect balance.
- London Dry gins like Tanqueray or Beefeater work beautifully; floral gins like Hendrick's add a lovely cucumber-rose note.
- For a vodka gimlet, substitute the gin with vodka for a cleaner, more neutral cocktail.
- Pre-batch the gin, lime juice, and simple syrup for up to 24 hours in the refrigerator; shake with ice just before serving.
- Simple syrup can be made at home with equal parts sugar and water and keeps refrigerated for up to 4 weeks.