Gimlet Cocktail Recipe | History of the Gimlet Cocktail
By Andrew Tardif
The Gimlet is a classic cocktail with roots to the British Royal Navy, and is simply made of gin, lime juice, and sugar. This cocktail led the way for many of the popular cocktails we know today like the Daiquiri, Margarita, and Whiskey Sour.
In this article, we at Chemist Spirits want to talk about where the gimlet cocktail comes from and how to make the best gimlet at home.
What is a Gimlet Cocktail?
The Gimlet Cocktail is simply gin, lime juice, and simple syrup. This is shaken with ice and strained into a coupe. The gimlet is a refreshing and tart cocktail perfect for spring, and it’s a cocktail where the quality of ingredients is crucial.
Ingredients:
Base Spirit: Gin
Citrus: Lime Juice
Sweetener: Simple Syrup 1:1
A Brief History of the Gimlet Cocktail
Although the exact origins aren’t known, the gimlet cocktail is the result of rationing during the times of the British Royal Navy. While rum was a common ration for navy members, gin was the typical ration for the officers at the time.
Lime juice and sugar eventually became possible rations on the ships. Naval authorities like Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Desmond Gimlette (notice the name?) pushed their crew to mix the gin and lime juice in order to fight scurvy.
Eventually sugar was also added to make the concoction more palatable. So, there you have a gimlet. You’ll notice that it’s very similar to the Daiquiri, which is made of rum, lime, and sugar and also has origins in the British Royal Navy.
In the late 18th century, lime cordial was created by Lachlan Rose to make a more self-stable mix of lime juice and sugar. Rose’s Lime Cordial became the popular mixer for the British Royal Navy.
The gimlet cocktail became more codified in the mid 20th century, and with the rise of vodka in the U.S. it became common to see the cocktail using vodka instead of its original spirit, gin. Thanks to the resurgence of classic cocktails, the gimlet has reclaimed its place as a popular drink.
Now, as for the name. It’s still up in the air. Many point to its name being a nod to Rear-Admiral Gimlette from earlier, but it may also be named after the boring tool used to get into booze barrels, also called a gimlet.
Luckily, knowing where the name came from doesn’t affect the taste.
How to Make a Gimlet Cocktail
So, let’s make this cocktail. All you will need is:
Gin: Choose a gin you enjoy, since the lime juice and sugar are meant to balance out and accentuate the natural flavors of the gin. Using a floral and citrus-forward gin like our Chemist American Gin makes for a smooth and easy-drinkin’ gimlet. If you go for something like a London Dry, prepare for a more pine-forward and dry gimlet.
Lime Juice: We recommend using fresh squeezed lime juice. Lime juice from the bottle just doesn’t have the fresh quality you really want in a gimlet. In general, for cocktails, you should use fresh-squeezed.
Simple Syrup: We usually use a simple syrup using cane sugar with a 1 to 1 ratio of sugar to water. You can use white sugar, but cane is slightly less refined and therefore has a deeper flavor. You can also use demerara or turbinado sugar to add richness.
Since the whole purpose of the lime cordial was to emulate the freshness of lime juice and sugar in a self-stable product, you’re better off just using lime juice and simple syrup. That is, unless you plan on making gimlets while circumnavigating the globe.
Gimlet Cocktail Recipe:
2 oz Chemist American Gin
¾ oz lime juice
¾ oz simple syrup
Add gin, lime juice, simple syrup, and ice to a shaker tin.
Shake for 10-15 seconds or until thoroughly chilled.
Strain into a chilled coupe.
Garnish with a lime wheel.
As with all cocktails, you can play with the ratios and amounts to match your own palate.
Where to Get the Best Gimlet in Asheville, NC
From the decks of the British Royal Navy to your friendly neighborhood cocktail bar, the gimlet holds a very firm grip as a popular classic cocktail. If you’re in Asheville, NC, make sure to stop by Antidote Cocktail Lounge to try the best gimlet in Asheville.
You can also take a tour and sample all of our gins in our tasting room. This way you can find out which gin will go best in your gimlet cocktail recipe.
Happy concocting!
Gimlet Cocktail FAQs
Where Does the Gimlet Come From?
The Gimlet has its origins in the 19th century when crew from the British Royal Navy would combine lime juice with gin to fight scurvy and sugar to make it easier to drink.
What’s the Best Gin for a Gimlet?
The best gin for a gimlet depends on your particular taste, but we enjoy a more floral and citrus-forward gin especially for the springtime. So instead of a London Dry or Old Tom, we reach for a new world style like our American Gin.
Is a Lime Cordial in the Original Gimlet Recipe?
The gimlet originally used lime juice and sugar. Lime cordial became a mainstay of the British Royal Navy after Lachlan Rose, who ran a company that provisioned ships, found a way to preserve citrus juice using sugar.
