Gimlet cocktail recipe

Over some 100 years, the Gimlet has become one of the world’s great gin cocktails. A little bit tangy, a little bit sweet, this drink also manages to retain gin’s nice botanical kick, so it’s easy to see why its popularity endures. Another reason is the fact it’s so easy to make – there’s every chance you already have all of the ingredients at home.

Like a lot of cocktails, the Gimlet’s popularity exploded in the 1950s, despite the fact it was first mentioned in a cocktail book from the 1930s. How it got its name, however, is up for debate. Some say it’s thanks to Surgeon Admiral Sir Thomas Gimlette, who used it to prevent scurvy among sailors. Others say it takes its name from the gimlet tool used to drill small holes on navy ships, as the cocktail has a similar ‘piercing’ effect on the drinker. Whatever the case, if you’re a fan of gin, this is a great cocktail to add to your repertoire as it allows all of the spirit’s hallmark characters to really shine.

You might see some recipes recommending lime cordial instead of freshly squeezed lime, but, like all cocktails, there’s no substitute for freshly squeezed juice. When a cocktail is as simple as this, there’s no room to hide in terms of ingredients, so don’t bother cutting corners here.

This is most definitely worthy of shaking up a storm and raising a glass to sailors of times gone by.

This cocktail is all about gin, but with so many different types of gin available these days, made with so many different aromatics and botanicals, experimentation awaits. Try it with your favourite brands to see which gin works best with the zesty flavours of the lime. You might find some of the small-batch Aussie gins using native botanicals are an awesome match.

If you’re trying to avoid sugar, instead of using sugar syrup, whip your own batch of honey syrup by mixing one tablespoon of honey with one tablespoon of warm water. You’ll need to shake or stir it vigorously to combine, but then experiment by adding 10mL to the cocktail and tasting to see if it’s sweet enough for you.

And if this has opened your eyes to the beauty of the Gimlet, check out our recipes for the Yuzu Gimlet and the Soju Gimlet, which both give the classic recipe a delicious twist.