Celery Gimlet
Shake ∙ Cocktail glass ∙ 3 min ∙ 17.6% ABV ∙
The Celery Gimlet is a savory gin sour: celery gin and fresh celery juice shaken with herbal liqueur, lime, and a vegetal twist on the classic Gimlet. Crisp and savory with a vegetal backbone, bright lime acidity, and a faint herbal-bitter edge — a refreshing aperitif for those who like a drier, greener drink.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake all ingredients with ice: Celery dry gin 45 mlCelery juice 30 mlHerbal liqueur (e.g., Green Chartreuse) 10 mlLime juice 10 mlLime cordial 5 mlWhite wine vinegar 5 mlCelery bitters 2 dashes
- Fine strain into the chilled glass
- Garnish with a celery slice
Tips
- Use celery juice extracted the same day — it oxidizes and turns flat fast, so juice to order for the brightest flavor.
- Shake hard for about 12 seconds over ice; the celery juice needs aeration and chill to feel lively rather than dull.
- Go easy on the herbal liqueur — a small pour lifts the celery without letting Chartreuse take over the glass.
- Fine-strain into a chilled glass to catch celery pulp that would otherwise muddy the texture.
History
The Gimlet dates to the late nineteenth century, when British Royal Navy officers cut Plymouth gin with Rose's Lime Juice Cordial, a preserved lime then issued to ward off scurvy; the name is usually tied either to a surgeon, Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Gimlette, or to the gimlet tool used to tap casks, though both stories are unverified. The Celery Gimlet is a modern savory variation rather than a historical drink, swapping in celery gin and fresh celery juice and adding an herbal liqueur and a touch of vinegar. No documented inventor or first appearance is recorded for this version.
FAQ
What is a Gimlet cocktail?
A Gimlet is a classic cocktail of gin and lime, traditionally gin sweetened with lime cordial and shaken or stirred over ice. The Celery Gimlet is a savory variation that adds celery gin, fresh celery juice, herbal liqueur, and a touch of vinegar.
What ingredients go into a Celery Gimlet?
A Celery Gimlet combines celery dry gin and freshly extracted celery juice with an herbal liqueur such as Green Chartreuse, fresh lime juice, lime cordial, and a little white wine vinegar. A couple of dashes of celery bitters are a nice optional addition.
Is a Celery Gimlet shaken or stirred?
Shaken. The fresh celery and lime juice need hard shaking over ice to chill, dilute, and aerate the drink; stirring would leave it flat and dull. Fine-strain afterward to remove celery pulp.
What glass is a Celery Gimlet served in and how is it garnished?
A Celery Gimlet is served straight up and finished with a celery slice as garnish. The celery garnish echoes the celery gin and fresh celery juice that define the drink.
What is the difference between a gin rickey and a Gimlet?
A gin rickey is a tall, dry highball of gin, fresh lime, and soda water served over ice with no added sweetener. A Gimlet is shorter and sweeter, built from gin and lime cordial without soda, so it tastes richer and more concentrated.
What are some common Gimlet mistakes?
The most common mistakes are using bottled lime instead of fresh, over-sweetening with too much cordial, and under-shaking so the drink lands warm and flat. With a Celery Gimlet, also avoid stale celery juice and a heavy hand with the herbal liqueur.
