5 Springtime Twists on the Classic Gimlet
By Erin Phraner, Refinery29
Still associate gin gimlets with Granny's bridge club? Well, not anymore. We refurbished the overlooked drink - traditionally a 50-50 mix of Rose's Sweetened Lime Juice and gin - with fresh new flavors, like rhubarb, cucumber, and smoky pineapple.
Master these recipes and then invite friends over for happy hour. You'll dazzle them with these newfangled gimlets, served up or on the rocks - it's your choice...you're the bartender, after all!
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Rhubarb Gimlet -- The sweet-tart tang (and gorgeous rosy hue!) of this farm-to-highball cocktail comes from a simple DIY rhubarb syrup. Store leftover syrup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks. Better yet, double the syrup recipe and keep it on hand for homemade happy hours all month long!
Ingredients
3 stalks rhubarb, chopped, plus more for garnish (optional)
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup water
3 ounces gin
1 to 2 ounces fresh lemon juice
Directions
Put the rhubarb, sugar, and water in a small saucepan and cook, stirring occasionally, over medium heat until simmering. Simmer 10 minutes; press through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl. Cover and refrigerate syrup until cool, about 20 minutes.
For each cocktail, shake three ounces rhubarb syrup, the gin, and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker with ice for 30 seconds; strain into an ice-filled glass. Garnish with a rhubarb stalk.
Makes: 1 drink
Cucumber Gimlet -- This refreshing riff on the classic gimlet - spiked with cucumber and lime juice - will take you right through to summer. For a quick graphic garnish, very thinly slice English cucumber into rounds and arrange them around the bottom of a lowball glass before filling with ice.
Ingredients
1/2 English cucumber, chopped, plus slices for garnish (optional)
2 tablespoons water
2 ounces gin
1 ounce fresh lime juice
1 ounce simple syrup (recipe below)
Directions
Puree the cucumber and water in a blender until smooth. For each cocktail, shake three ounces cucumber juice, the gin, lime juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice for 30 seconds; strain into an ice-filled glass. Garnish with cucumber slices.
Simple Syrup: Heat one cup each of water and granulated sugar in a small saucepan, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves; let cool and transfer to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator up to one month.
Makes: 1 drink
Sweet-and-Salty Grapefruit Gimlet -- Pink grapefruit takes the place of lime juice in this sweet-and-salty recipe, which lives somewhere between a Paloma and a Salty Dog. Not into the salted rim? No worries! Add a pinch of salt to the cocktail before shaking instead.
Ingredients
1 ounce simple syrup, plus more for rimming (see slide two)
Coarse salt, for rimming
3 ounces pink grapefruit juice
3 ounces gin
Grapefruit slices, for garnish (optional)
Directions
Sprinkle coarse salt on a plate. Dip the rim of a glass in simple syrup, then press into the salt to coat. Shake the grapefruit juice, gin, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice for 30 seconds; strain into the prepared glass. Garnish with a grapefruit slice.
Makes: 1 drink
Smoky Pineapple Gimlet -- Smoky mezcal, a strong agave-based liquor, cuts through the sweet pineapple juice in this gimlet variation, giving it a deep, complex flavor (perfect for serious cocktail lovers)! If you don't have mezcal on hand, swap in an equal amount of tequila.
Ingredients
3 ounces gin
2 ounces pineapple juice
1 ounce lime juice
1 ounce Mezcal
1 ounce simple syrup
Directions
Pineapple wedges, for garnish (optional)
Shake the gin, pineapple juice, lime juice, Mezcal, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice for 30 seconds; strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with pineapple wedges.
Makes: 1 drink
Strawberry Gimlet -- It's peak strawberry season in most of the U.S., so look for tiny local strawberries in your grocery store or farmers' market - they're incredible sweet and flavorful! Tossed with a little sugar, sliced strawberries create their own "simple syrup," which we shook up with gin and lemon juice for this picture-perfect spring drink. Served in a mason jar? We mean, c'mon!
Ingredients
1 pint strawberries, hulled and sliced
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 ounces gin
2 ounces fresh lemon juice
Directions
Toss the strawberries and granulated sugar in a bowl; set aside 30 minutes or until syrupy. Pour strawberry mixture into a sieve set over a bowl. Reserve the strawberries and strawberry syrup separately.
For each cocktail, shake three ounces strawberry syrup, the gin, and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker with ice for 30 seconds; strain into an ice-filled glass. Garnish with strawberries.
Makes: 1 drink
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