Gimlet (cocktail)
A gin and lime cordial cocktail first attested in 1928.
The gimlet combines gin with lime cordial. The name first appeared in 1928. Early recipes, like one from 1928, simply called for gin and "a spot of lime." A 1930 guide specified equal parts gin and lime cordial, a ratio echoed in a 1953 novel that insisted on half gin and half Rose's lime juice. Contemporary palates often favor a less sweet version, using up to four parts gin to one part lime cordial.
The cocktail's name likely comes from the tool used for drilling small holes, a term also used figuratively to mean sharp or piercing, possibly referencing the drink's potent effect. Another theory links it to Royal Navy surgeon Rear Admiral Sir Thomas Gimlette, who may have introduced the drink to encourage lime juice consumption as a scurvy preventative, though no obituary or biographical record confirms this. The screwdriver, a similar mix of clear spirit and citrus juice, also takes its name from a hand tool.
Variations include the vodka gimlet, which substitutes vodka for gin. The Schumann's Gimlet adds both lemon and lime juice. The Bennett incorporates bitters. The Pimmlet uses two parts Pimm's No. 1 Cup to one part London Dry Gin. A popular version, the French gimlet, includes elderflower liqueur.
Quick Facts
- Base
- Gin
- Ingredients
- Two to four parts gin · One part sweetened lime juice
- Served
- Straight up: chilled, without ice
- Garnish
- Lime
- Prep
- Mix and serve. Garnish with a slice of lime
- Drinkware
- Cocktail glass
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The gimlet is a cocktail made of gin and lime cordial. A 1928 description of the drink was: gin, and a spot of lime. A description in the 1953 Raymond Chandler novel The Long Goodbye stated that 'a real gimlet is half gin and half Rose's lime juice and nothing else.' This is in line with the proportions suggested by The Savoy Cocktail Book (1930), which specifies one half gin and one half lime cordial. Some modern tastes are less sweet, and generally provide for up to four parts gin to one part lime cordial.
The word 'gimlet' used in this sense is first attested in 1928. The most obvious derivation is from the tool for drilling small holes, a word also used figuratively to describe something as sharp or piercing. Thus, the cocktail may have been named for its 'penetrating' effects on the drinker. Another theory is that the drink was named after the Royal Navy surgeon Rear Admiral Sir Thomas Gimlette (27 November 1857 – 4 October 1943), who allegedly introduced this drink as a means of inducing his messmates to take lime juice as an anti-scurvy medication. However, this association is not mentioned in his obituary notice in the BMJ, The Times (6 October 1943), or his entry in Who Was Who 1941–1950.
The screwdriver, another cocktail made from a clear spirit and a citrus juice, is also named after a common handtool.
Reader's Guide
The gimlet is a classic cocktail whose significance lies in its simplicity and enduring popularity. First attested in 1928, it represents a straightforward combination of gin and lime cordial, with early recipes like those in The Savoy Cocktail Book (1930) and Raymond Chandler's The Long Goodbye (1953) specifying equal parts. Its legacy includes adaptation to modern palates, which often prefer a drier mix of up to four parts gin to one part lime cordial. The drink's name likely derives from the gimlet tool, suggesting a 'penetrating' effect, though an alternative theory links it to Royal Navy surgeon Sir Thomas Gimlette, a connection unsupported by his obituaries. Variations such as the vodka gimlet, French gimlet (with elderflower liqueur), Bennett (with bitters), and Pimmlet (with Pimm's No. 1 Cup) show its versatility. The gimlet remains a reference point in cocktail culture, often compared to the similarly named screwdriver.
Did You Know?
- The gimlet is first attested in 1928.
- A 1953 description in Raymond Chandler's The Long Goodbye calls for half gin and half Rose's lime juice.
- The Savoy Cocktail Book (1930) specifies one half gin and one half lime cordial.
- The cocktail may be named after the gimlet tool or after Royal Navy surgeon Sir Thomas Gimlette.
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