• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Charming Cocktails
  • Recipe Index
  • Shop
  • About
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • Shop
  • About
  • Subscribe
    • Amazon
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipe Index
    • Shop
    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Amazon
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home Classic Cocktails

    Gimlet Cocktail

    Published: Nov 19, 2021 · Modified: Jun 14, 2024 by Kimberly · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe
    side view of gimlet cocktail with name of the drink in text on top and gin and lime in the background

    A Gimlet Cocktail is one of the simplest there is. With only three ingredients, this one is all about quality! The flavor of the gin has a huge impact on the drink, so make sure you use one that you really enjoy.

    side view of gimlet cocktail with a lime garnish

    This drink is one of the oldest modern cocktails! It was widely used to prevent scurvy (vitamin C deficiency) by the British Navy in the 1800's. Rather than drinking the juice on its own, the sailors would mix it together with gin. (Why not??)

    Because it's such a simple drink, it's stayed popular for all this time, and for good reason! It's quick and easy to make, and always refreshing to sip on.

    Another classic cocktail to try featuring lime juice and gin is the Last Word. The beautiful and tasty French Gimlet is a sweeter variation to try too! Or for a bit of a flavor twist on the original, try out this absolutely delicious Blackberry Bergamot Gin Gimlet.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Substitutions
    • Variations
    • Equipment
    • Instructions
    • Top tip
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Ingredients

    Since there are only three ingredients in this drink, each one is important. While you can adjust the amounts to your taste, it always comes down to these three:

    • Gin
    • Lime juice
    • Simple syrup

    A note about Rose's: In Raymond Chandler's 1953 book, The Long Goodbye, in which a character says that the Gimlet is a mix of half gin and half Rose's Lime Cordial. Nowadays, the U.S. version of Rose's uses different ingredients like high fructose corn syrup. But if you can get your hands on a Rose's that was not produced in the U.S., it is still pretty close to the original. (The one I have linked above is the U.K. version, which is why it's so much more expensive for anyone in the U.S.!)

    Personally, I will always go for the fresh ingredients, but Rose's is still loved by many!

    coupe glass with gimlet ingredients

    Substitutions

    • Gin - if you really don't like gin, you're going to want to substitute it out here, since it's the main flavor. Give a Vodka Gimlet a try, or a Tequila Gimlet is great too. Just substitute the spirits in an equal amount to the gin.
    • Lime juice - you can use lemon juice, although it won't be quite as tart as the lime juice.
    • Simple syrup - you can use a sugar substitute (like allulose or erythritol) syrup, or use a spoonful of honey instead if you are avoiding refined sugars.

    Variations

    There are a ton of ways to create variations on this drink, since it's so simple. Jazz it up however you like!

    • Spicy Gimlet - infuse your gin with fresh jalapeños for a deliciously spiced-up version.
    • Cranberry Gimlet - give your drink a little bit of fall flavor with a half ounce of cranberry juice added in to the mix.
    • Ginger Gimlet - add in a teaspoon of ginger juice for a tasty zing.
    gimlet with cocktail shaker and cut up lime in the background

    Equipment

    Since this drink has citrus juice, you'll want to shake it with ice. You'll need a cocktail shaker, a strainer, and a cocktail serving glass. I double-strained using a fine-mesh strainer underneath the regular strainer to get out more of the lime pulp, but that is totally optional.

    My favorite bar equipment is from A Bar Above, and you can use my code LKDrinks for 10% off on their website.

    Instructions

    Start out by cutting your lime garnish. For this, you'll just need to cut a slice of lime so it looks like a wheel. Set the lime wheel aside and prepare the rest of the drink.

    Juice the rest of your lime, measure it and add it to your cocktail shaker. Then, add the simple syrup to the shaker.

    pouring in lime juice
    adding simple syrup

    Finally, add the gin to your cocktail shaker. Fill the shaker with ice, seal it up and give it 15-20 good shakes to chill and dilute the drink.

    adding in the gin
    adding ice to the shaker

    Strain the drink into your cocktail serving glass, add the lime wheel garnish, and serve immediately.

    double straining the cocktail
    adding a lime wheel garnish

    Hint: You can also cut a large piece of lime rind and twist it over your serving glass after pouring the cocktail. This will cause some of the lime oil from the rind to spray over the drink, giving it an extra punch of lime flavor and aroma.

    side view of gimlet with black background

    Top tip

    Although you could serve this in any cocktail glass, a stemmed glass like a coupe glass or a Martini glass are more traditional. Since it's served up, without ice, this allows you to hold the drink without your hand warming up the drink!

    Just be sure to use a smaller size glass, and not a jumbo 8-ounce glass, or it will look like a tiny amount of liquid in a giant glass. Look for a 4 or 5 ounce glass for this drink.

    📖 Recipe

    side view of gimlet cocktail with lime garnish

    Gimlet Cocktail

    Kimberly Salem
    This simple classic cocktail is a gin-forward drink, enhanced by a little lime juice and simple syrup.
    3.50 from 4 votes
    Pin Recipe Print Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Total Time 5 minutes mins
    Course Drinks
    Cuisine American, European
    Servings 1 cocktail
    Calories 173 kcal

    Equipment

    • Cocktail shaker and strainer
    • Cocktail serving glass
    • Knife
    • Citrus juicer
    • Fine mesh cocktail strainer (optional)

    Ingredients

    • lime wheel garnish
    • 2 ounces gin
    • ½ ounce lime juice
    • ½ ounce simple syrup equal amounts of sugar and water

    Instructions
     

    • Cut the lime in half crosswise, and cut about a ¼ inch thick slice of lime so it looks like a wheel.
      lime wheel garnish
    • Cut a slit in the lime wheel from the center to the edge and set aside.
    • Juice the lime and measure out the lime juice, and add it to the cocktail shaker.
      ½ ounce lime juice
    • Add the simple syrup and gin to the cocktail shaker.
      ½ ounce simple syrup, 2 ounces gin
    • Fill the rest of the shaker with ice, seal it and give it about 15-20 good shakes.
    • Strain the drink into your serving glass. If you have a fine mesh strainer, you can double strain by holding it under the stream as you pour it into the serving glass.
    • Add your lime wheel garnish, and serve immediately.

    Video

    Notes

    • You can use Rose's lime cordial in place of the lime and simple syrup.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 173kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSodium: 9mgPotassium: 27mgFiber: 1gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 7IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 4mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword alcohol, cocktail, gin, lime
    Subscribe for more!Join our email list for weekly recipes!
    Made with WP Recipe Maker plugin

    If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my newsletter and never miss a recipe! Cheers!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    No Comments

    3.50 from 4 votes (4 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Subscribe to the Charming Cocktails email list
    A graphic that says "New! Want to mix up some more delicious drinks? Click here to grab my new eBook, Wine Time, all about wine cocktails!" On the right is an image of a tablet and phone showing the cover of the eBook.
    Kim, the blog author

    I'm Kim, a cocktail enthusiast (and cold brew coffee lover). Here you'll find recipes, tips and tricks to make delicious cocktails at home! More about me →

    • Instagram
    • Link to Limoncello Kitchen YouTube channel.
    • Pinterest
    • Facebook

    Seasonal Recipes

    • Side view of a Lavender Mule vodka cocktail on a gray countertop. The drink is in a gold and glass mug with a lime slice and dried lavender sprigs as garnish. In the background are a bottle of lavender syrup, some bar tools, and a cut lime on a wooden cutting board.
      Lavender Mule
    • Side view of a pink colored Floradora gin cocktail. Bar tools and ingredients are in the background.
      Floradora Cocktail
    • Side view of a Lychee mocktail garnished with mint and a lychee along with lime zest sugar on the side of the glass. In the background are flowers, a jigger, a dish of lychees and fresh mint.
      Lychee Mocktail
    • Slightly overhead photo of a Lavender Lime gin spritz cocktail. The drink is a pinkish purple color and garnished with a lime slice and lavender sprigs.
      Lavender Lime Gin Spritz
    • Martini glass with a Blueberry Lemon Drop cocktail. The drink is red with blue sugar rim and garnished with a lemon slice and blueberries.
      Blueberry Lemon Drop Martini
    • Pink whitney cocktail, garnished and ready to serve.
      Pink Whitney Drink | Pink Whitney Lemonade Martini 

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Shop eBooks
    • About Me
    • Subscribe
    • Privacy Policy

    Social

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
    • Facebook

    Contact

    • Contact Me
    • Photo Portfolio

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2020-2025 Kimberly Salem Photography, LLC

    side view of gimlet cocktail with name of the drink in text on top and gin and lime in the background
    Manage Cookie Consent
    We use cookies to optimize our website and our service.
    Functional cookies Always active
    The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
    Preferences
    The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
    Statistics
    The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
    Marketing
    The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
    Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
    View preferences
    {title} {title} {title}

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.