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A glass of gimlet with ice, a jigger, and a whole lime behind it.
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Gimlet

Made with simple ingredients but delivering big on refreshing, cool, and botanical flavor, Gimlets are a classic cocktail for a reason. Choose your favorite high-quality gin and always squeeze fresh juice for superior flavor.
Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 1 cocktail
Calories 91kcal
Author John Kanell

Equipment

  • cocktail shaker
  • Coupe glass or martini glass

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces gin
  • 1 ounce lime juice
  • ½ ounce simple syrup
  • Lime wheel for garnish

Instructions

  • Combine gin, lime juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice and shake until the outside is chilled and frosted, about 30 seconds.
  • Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
  • Garnish with a lime wheel.

Notes

  • Use larger ice cubes. Full-sized ice cubes will chill the gin mixture when shaking, melting minimally. Crushed ice cubes or ice pellets risk melting and diluting the flavor of the drink.
  • Use fresh juice. Bottled juice just can’t compete with the bright and citrusy flavored of fresh-squeezed lime juice. Squeeze the limes using a citrus press or reamer.
  • Chill the cocktail glasses ahead of time. Chill the glass in the freezer for at least 30 minutes before serving the drink, as the cooled class will help keep the drink cold and refreshing as you enjoy it.
  • Easily make simple syrup. Though most liquor stores sell simple syrup, it’s very easy and more affordable to make it yourself. Here’s how to do it: combine equal parts boiling water and granulated sugar in a heat-safe bowl and whisk until the sugar is dissolved and the water is clear, or for about 30 seconds. You can also make it on the stovetop, bringing the water to boil over high heat before whisking in the sugar until clear. Cool the simple syrup to room temperature before making the drink to prevent it from melting the ice and diluting the cocktail.
  • Adjust the sweetness to taste. If you prefer dryer drinks, start by shaking in ¼ ounce of simple syrup and adding more if desired. If sweeter cocktails are more your style, start with ½ ounce of syrup, shaking in additional as needed.
  • Shake in a sealed container. Don’t have a cocktail shaker? No problem. You can shake up this drink in any sealed glass or metal food-safe container, such as a mason jar.
  • Strain before serving. To prevent the gimlet from getting watered down, you will want to strain the ice out of the gin mixture when pouring into the glass. Either strain through the cocktail shaker, a cocktail or Hawthorne strainer, or a fine mesh sieve.

Nutrition

Calories: 91kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.5g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 16mg | Potassium: 277mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 14IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 1mg