Gin Gimlet

The gin gimlet is a classic cocktail made of lime juice and gin. Here’s an easy recipe for this refreshing drink that takes only 5 minutes to make!

Here’s a classic cocktail that is super refreshing and takes only 5 minutes to whip up: the gimlet! Not only is the gimlet simple to make, it’s the perfect balance of sweet and tart with the botanical flavor of gin. Alex and I got our hands on a bottle of local gin and have been mixing up all sorts of gin cocktails: a classic Gin and Tonic, Watermelon Gin Cocktails, a Hanky Panky, and the Gin Fizz. For our latest gin drink we decided to go retro and go with a gin gimlet cocktail: and it was even better than expected.

Try them all! See our Best Gin Cocktails.

What is a gimlet?

A gin gimlet is a classic cocktail made of lime juice, gin and simple syrup. It’s sometimes served with a splash of soda water. While it became popular in the 1950’s, a recipe for a gin gimlet cocktail was included in a 1930’s cocktail book, so it stems back to at least that far!

Where does the name gimlet come from? Some sources thinks it comes from a man named Surgeon Admiral Sir Thomas Gimlette, who started serving it to sailors to prevent scurvy. Another idea: a tool called the gimlet! It was used for drilling small holes on navy ships, and it could refer to the drink’s “piercing” effect on sailors. Whatever the case, the gimlet has now solidified itself as one of history’s great gin cocktails.

How to make a gimlet

What does a gin gimlet taste like? It’s tangy and sweet, with an aroma of gin but balanced on the back end. It’s pretty botanical and gin forward, so you’ll want to use a great bottle of gin. If you’re not a fan of strong drinks, we’d recommend trying the gin fizz instead. Or, you can add a splash of soda water to mellow out the flavors in this cocktail!

Here’s how to make a gin gimlet cocktail (see the full recipe quantities below):

• Add gin, lime juice, and syrup to a cocktail shaker, and shake with ice.
• Pour into a glass and add a splash of soda water if desired.
• Garnish with a lime wheel.

Try it naturally sweet, or use simple syrup

Alex and I love naturally sweetened drinks, so we love using pure maple syrup in most of our cocktail recipes. It sweetens drinks in a gentler way than simple syrup and it gives it a more nuanced flavor. When we taste test back to back, maple syrup always wins! Simple syrup has a more straightforward flavor: you can use it if you prefer!

More classic cocktails? Try these Classic Lime Cocktails.

What type of glass is a gimlet served in?

A gin gimlet is traditionally served in a cocktail glass, which is similar shape to a martini glass. They’re slightly different: a cocktail glass is slightly smaller and more rounded, and a martini glass is more of a cone shape and has a shorter stem. Either way, there’s no need to buy a cocktail glass for this one if you have a martini glass! (What else is served in a martini glass? Try our Cosmopolitan or Lemon Drop Martini.)

Of course, you can serve this gin gimlet cocktail in whatever glass you like and it’s still a gimlet! Our Basil Gimlet⁠—which we’d heartily recommend, by the way!⁠—we served in an Old Fashioned glass.

Find the best quality gin

Because this gin gimlet cocktail is so simple, it’s all about quality here. The better the gin, the better the drink. The easiest way to tell if a gin is high quality? Don’t buy the cheapest gin on the shelf. Try to invest in a mid-price range gin: the drink will only taste as good as the gin you invest in!

If you live in a city that has local distilleries, be on the lookout for local spirits! We used gin from 8th Day Distillery here in Indianapolis.

Do I need a cocktail shaker?

Cocktail shakers are inexpensive and absolutely worth the cabinet space. A cocktail shaker quickly chills cocktails by shaking them against ice, then has a perforated lid so you can pour out the cocktail without pouring out the ice as well. Here’s the cocktail shaker we use: Favorite Cocktail Shaker

What’s a substitute for a cocktail shaker? Well if you want to make a gin gimlet cocktail and don’t have one, you can use a glass mason jar instead! Place the cocktail in the jar and fill it with ice. Put on the top and shake away! When pouring out the cocktail, you’ll need to use a strainer or some other mesh to keep the ice inside the mason jar.

Make your own soda water

If you decide to add a splash of soda water to this gin gimlet (which mellows out the flavor), you can buy it, or make it at home. To make our soda water, we used our SodaStream, which we love — there are also several competitors on the market that work well.

Gimlet variations

Once you’ve mastered the gin gimlet, there are a few different variations on the gimlet to try!

This gin gimlet recipe is..

Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, plant-based, naturally sweet, and refined sugar free.

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Looking for more drink recipes?

Outside of this gin gimlet recipe, here are a few more of our favorite drink recipes:

• Best Frose Recipe (Frozen Rosé)
• Apple Cider Sangria
• Strawberry Daiquiris
• Watermelon Smoothie
• BEST Classic Margarita
• Blackberry Margarita
• Frozen Hot Chocolate
• Best Moscow Mule Recipe
• Homemade Cold Brew Recipe
• Best Frozen Margarita Recipe
• Fruit Infused Water Recipe
• Gin & Watermelon Cocktail
• Frozen Sangria
• Cucumber Lemon Water
• Lime Water with Mint
• Watermelon Juice
• Gin Fizz Cocktail
• Watermelon Drink Ideas
• Best Piña Coladas (or Virgin Piña Coladas)
• Best Blueberry Smoothie
• Smash 4 ways: Blackberry Bourbon, Maple Bourbon, Whiskey Smash, Berry Vodka Smash

Last updated: March 2020