Gimlet
Stirred, Up Citrusy, Light
A daily ration of lime juice was administered by the British Navy as a defense against scurvy. They also received a daily gin ration. It wasn’t long before an enterprising sailor mixed them together.
In 1867, Scottish fruit importer Lauchlan Rose patented a process for preserving fruit juice. Rose’s Lime Cordial was born and quickly adopted by the British Navy. Its long-lasting “freshness” is said to have saved many lives on long sea voyages and such was the importance of limes that Americans coined the term “Limey” in recognition of this British obsession.
The name Gimlet is said to have come from a tool that was used to open barrels of spirits on board ships. There is also a story that it was named after Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Desmond Gimlette (1857-1943) who was said to have mixed gin with lime. Both stories are entirely plausible.
Ingredients
- 2 parts Fords Gin
- 1 parts Fresh Lime Juice
- 0.75 parts Simple Syrup
Instructions
- Shake all the ingredients with ice.
- Strain into a chilled cocktail glass or over new ice into a rocks glass.
- Garnish with a lime wedge.
