Cocktail Atlas

Gimlet

Gin with lime cordial and fresh lime juice, shaken and served up. Sharp, clean and a good test of a gin.

Cocktail Atlas · Updated

Spirit
Gin
Glass
Coupe glass
Method
Shaken
Difficulty
Beginner

Spec source: Difford's Guide, Gimlet 2:1:1 (the Gimlet is not on the IBA list)

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Gimlet

Ingredients

Ingredients for Gimlet. Tick each one as you add it.
AddedMeasureIngredient
2 oz
1 oz
1 oz

Steps

  1. Shake the gin, lime cordial and lime juice hard with ice.
  2. Strain into a chilled coupe glass.

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Batch it For a party of 4–20

Makes 8 drinks, about 40 oz · 1200 ml before ice.

Gimlet batch
AmountIngredient
16 oz · 480 mlGin
8 oz · 240 mlLime cordial
8 oz · 240 mlFresh lime juice
8 oz · 240 mlCold water, for dilution (approx.)

The water stands in for the melt from shaking: about 25% for a shaken drink. It is an approximation, so taste and adjust. Chill the batch at least 2 hours and pour over fresh ice.

Use a 2 liter pitcher, or split it between two 1 liter bottles.

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Why it works

The Gimlet balances strong gin against lime in two forms. Lime cordial brings sweetness and a rounded, slightly cooked lime flavor; fresh lime juice adds sharp acidity and brightness. Together they give the drink depth without extra syrup. A hard shake chills it and adds dilution, and serving it up in a chilled coupe keeps it crisp to the last sip.

Substitutions

  • No lime cordial? Use ¾ oz simple syrup and 1 oz fresh lime juice in its place.
  • Vodka makes a cleaner, less botanical Gimlet.
  • A citrus-forward gin suits the lime best.

Variations

Questions

What is lime cordial?
A sweetened, preserved lime juice. It’s sweeter and less sharp than fresh lime juice, so it acts as both the citrus and the sugar.
Is a Gimlet on the IBA list?
No. This spec is a widely documented 2:1:1 version (gin, lime cordial, fresh lime) from Difford’s Guide.
Shaken or stirred?
Shaken. Citrus drinks are shaken to chill quickly and blend the juice evenly.

Making it: Gimlet

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