Celery Gimlet (recipe No. 2)
A herbal and sour gin cocktail ∙ Muddle; Shake ∙ 4 min ∙ 18.1% ABV ∙
The Celery Gimlet is a savory gin sour of muddled celery and celery salt shaken with London dry gin, herbal liqueur, lime, sugar syrup, and wine vinegar.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- In the base of the shaker, muddle: Celery stick 10 cmCelery salt 1 pinch
- Add the remaining ingredients: London dry gin 45 mlHerbal liqueur (e.g., Green Chartreuse) 10 mlLime juice 25 mlSugar syrup 15 mlWine vinegar 5 mlCelery bitters 2 dashes (opt.)
- Shake with ice and fine strain into the ice-filled glass
- Garnish with a celery stick
Tips
- Give the celery a brief muddle with the celery salt before any liquid goes in, then shake hard for 12–15 seconds to pull out its fresh, green flavor. Under-muddled celery is the main reason this drink tastes flat.
History
The Celery Gimlet (recipe No. 2) is a celery-forward variation on the Gimlet. It keeps the gin-and-lime backbone but works in fresh celery, celery salt, herbal liqueur, and a savory, vinegar-tinged edge, moving away from the sweeter, cordial-based original.
The Gimlet is a gin and lime cocktail whose name is first attested in 1928. A popular story ties the drink itself to Royal Navy officers mixing their daily lime juice ration with gin to ward off scurvy, while the better-documented account derives its name from the gimlet, a small tool for boring holes.
FAQ
What is in a Celery Gimlet?
45 ml London dry gin, 25 ml lime juice, 15 ml sugar syrup, 10 ml of an herbal liqueur such as Green Chartreuse and 5 ml wine vinegar. They are shaken with 10 cm of fresh celery muddled with a pinch of celery salt. Two dashes of celery bitters are optional.
Is a Celery Gimlet shaken or stirred?
Shaken. The celery is muddled in the shaker, and the lime, syrup and vinegar need a hard 12–15 second shake to mix and chill. The shake also pulls the fresh, green flavor out of the celery.
What glass is a Celery Gimlet served in?
An old-fashioned glass over ice, garnished with a celery stick. A plain Gimlet is more often served up in a coupe or cocktail glass.
What can I use instead of celery bitters?
You don't need anything: the celery bitters are optional. The fresh celery and celery salt already give the drink its savory note.
