Cocktail
Gimlet
This modern fresh-lime version uses juice and simple syrup. The historical cordial-based Gimlet has a different sweetness and citrus character.
Gin · Citrusy · Fresh
Ingredients
- 50 ml Gin
- 25 ml Lime (fresh juice)
- 20 ml Simple syrup (1:1)
- 1 piece Lime (slice, for garnish) (Optional)
Ice and water are assumed. Add everything else you have.
Method
Shake
Equipment: Jigger or measuring spoon · Cocktail shaker · Strainer · Fine strainer
- Chill a coupe. Measure gin, fresh lime juice and syrup into a shaker.
- Add ice and shake for 10–15 seconds.
- Fine strain into the empty chilled glass. Add a thin lime slice if desired.
A small detail
Lime cordial is not a direct replacement for fresh juice: it already contains sugar.
Estimated strength
Medium
What does this mean?
Per serving: ≈ 16.8% ABV · ≈ 15.8 g alcohol
An estimate, not a measurement. Dilution lowers concentration but does not remove alcohol. Check your bottle label. These typical alcohol levels can vary by brand and market.
Added water from ice: 25%. Water added as a percentage of the measured liquid before mixing. Ice melt varies with temperature, time and technique.
Plan for a party
Prep the base
Measure the base ahead. Fresh additions and the final mixing happen per glass.
Guests: 6
Measure the base ahead. Fresh additions and the final mixing happen per glass.
One recipe serving per guest. Choose the amount you want to prepare.
Base only: 420 ml · Per serving: 70 ml. Use a container larger than the volume shown; allow room for fruit and stirring.
Prepare the base
- 300 ml Gin
- 120 ml Simple syrup (1:1)
Keep separate for serving
- 150 ml Lime (fresh juice)
Optional garnishes · Optional
- 6 pieces Lime (slice, for garnish)
Water for the batch
Do not pre-dilute this base. The original shake or stir with ice supplies the dilution at service.
Prepare and serve
- Measure the base ingredients into a clean, covered container and stir to combine. Keep the quantities in the serving section separate.
- Prepare for today’s service. Label and refrigerate the covered base; follow ingredient storage labels. Keep ice out of the container and chill the glasses before serving.
- For each glass, use 70 ml of base in place of those ingredients in the original method. Add the separate ingredients at their per-serving amounts. Do not measure the base ingredients a second time.
- Prepare fresh juice close to serving and keep it chilled separately unless it is explicitly in the base. Fresh batches are for this service, not an overnight storage promise.
The list saves ingredient names, not party quantities. Check the totals above against how much you have. Garnishes and ice are not added.
Bartender sources: Campari Academy: batching techniques · Dave Arnold: measuring dilution and batching · Simon Difford: water and dilution · Jeffrey Morgenthaler: batch calculator
Sources & inspiration
About this recipe
Recipes and house adaptations have source links. Measures, substitutions and estimated strength are explained separately. Images are AI-generated illustrations.
We do not claim every recipe has been physically tested. Community reviews are moderated user reports, separate from recipe sources.
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