Gimlet
Stir ∙ 3 min ∙ 22.7% ABV ∙
The Gimlet is a stirred gin sour made with London dry gin and lime cordial, served up in a cocktail glass. Lime cordial gives it a candied, tart sweetness that wraps around the gin's juniper bite, finishing clean and crisp.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Stir all ingredients with ice: London dry gin 50 mlLime cordial 40 ml
- Strain into the chilled glass
- Express a lime twist over the cocktail and use as garnish
Tips
- Stir over ice until well chilled — the cordial is sweet enough that under-dilution leaves it cloying.
- Adjust the gin-to-cordial balance slightly to taste, since cordial brands vary widely in sweetness and lime intensity.
- Pre-chill the glass so the drink stays cold longer after straining, since it's served up with no ice.
History
The gimlet is a gin and lime cordial cocktail whose name is first documented in 1928, with an early description simply noting gin and a splash of lime. The most straightforward explanation traces the name to the gimlet, a small tool for boring holes, applied figuratively to the drink's sharp, penetrating effect on the drinker. A rival, more romantic story credits Royal Navy surgeon Rear Admiral Sir Thomas Gimlette, said to have encouraged fellow officers to mix their medicinal daily lime juice ration with gin to make it more palatable and stave off scurvy. Sources note this naval-surgeon story is not supported by his own obituaries or biographical listings, leaving the tool-derived etymology the better-documented account. The Savoy Cocktail Book, published in 1930, set the classic proportions at equal parts gin and lime cordial, a ratio later echoed in Raymond Chandler's 1953 novel The Long Goodbye. Modern versions typically favor a less sweet build, using considerably more gin to cordial than the original equal-parts style.
FAQ
What is a Gimlet made of?
A Gimlet is made of London dry gin and lime cordial, stirred with ice and strained into a chilled cocktail glass, garnished with a lime twist.
Why is a Gimlet called a Gimlet?
The most cited theory ties the name to Sir Thomas Gimlette, a Royal Navy surgeon said to have added lime cordial to gin to make sailors take their scurvy-preventing dose more palatably. A gimlet is also a small hand tool for boring holes, which some link to the drink's sharp, piercing character, though the naval surgeon story is the more commonly repeated explanation.
What gin is best for a Gimlet?
A London dry gin is the standard choice, as its crisp juniper and citrus backbone hold up against the sweetness of the lime cordial. A more floral or citrus-forward gin can work too, but a classic London dry keeps the drink balanced rather than overly perfumed.
Is a Gimlet gin or vodka?
A Gimlet is a gin cocktail, built on London dry gin stirred with lime cordial. Vodka versions do exist as a modern variation, but the drink's identity and history are rooted in gin.
How does a French Gimlet differ?
A French Gimlet typically swaps the lime cordial for fresh lime juice, simple syrup, and a splash of elderflower liqueur such as St-Germain, giving it a lighter, more floral profile than the cordial-based original. This card's Gimlet keeps to the classic gin-and-cordial build rather than that variation.
What is the difference between a Tom Collins and a Gimlet?
A Tom Collins is a tall, fizzy highball of gin, lemon juice, sugar, and soda water served over ice, while a Gimlet is a shorter, stirred drink of gin and lime cordial served up with no soda. The Collins is meant to be long and refreshing; the Gimlet is compact and more spirit-forward.
