Making a Classic Vodka Gimlet
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Vodka gimlets are typically made by shaking the ingredients rather than stirring them. Add enough ice to a cocktail shaker to completely fill it. For the best tasting gimlet, make sure to use fresh ice. You’ll get a colder gimlet if you chill the cocktail shaker for 30 minutes to 1 hour before making the cocktail. If you don’t have a cocktail shaker, you can use a mason jar, sports drink bottle, or any container that has a lid.
Add the vodka and lime cordial, and shake well. After you’ve filled the cocktail shaker with ice, pour 2 ounces (60 ml) of vodka and 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of lime cordial over the ice. Place the lid on the shaker, and shake the mixture well for 15 to 30 seconds. Chilled vodka will help create a colder finished gimlet. You can purchase lime cordial at the grocery store with other cocktail mixers. Some brands may sell it as sweetened lime juice. However, if you want a fresher tasting gimlet, make your own lime cordial.
Strain the gimlet into a glass and garnish with lime. Once you’ve shook the gimlet to mix it well, use a Hawthorne or julep strainer to strain the cocktail into a martini or old-fashioned glass. Drop a lime wedge into the gimlet as a garnish. If you don’t have a cocktail strainer, you can use a slotted spoon to keep the ice out of the glass as you pour.
Mixing a Vodka Gimlet with Simple Syrup
Combine the vodka, lime juice, simple syrup, and ice in a cocktail shaker. Pour 2 ounces (60 ml) of vodka, 1 ounce (30 ml) of fresh lime juice, and ¾ ounce (23 ml) of simple syrup into a cocktail shaker. Finish off by adding enough ice to fill the shaker. To get 1 ounce (30 ml) of lime juice, you'll need 1-2 limes. You can purchase premade simple syrup, or make your own by combining equal parts sugar and water over heat until the sugar melts. Feel free to adjust the ratio to your liking. For instance, you may prefer 2 fl oz (59 ml) of vodka, ⁄4 fl oz (22 ml) of lime juice, and ⁄4 fl oz (22 ml) of simple syrup.
Shake the mixture rapidly. Once all of the ingredients are combined in the shaker, shake them well to ensure that they’re fully mixed. It usually takes about 20 seconds of shaking to properly mix the gimlet.
Strain the gimlet into a glass. When you’re finished shaking the cocktail, use a cocktail strainer to strain it into an old-fashioned glass. You can garnish the gimlet by adding a lime wedge or slice to the glass. If you prefer, you can pour the gimlet over ice to ensure that it’s cold.
Whipping Up Homemade Lime Cordial
Mix the sugar, water, and lime zest in a pan. In a medium saucepan, combine ½ cup (100 g) of granulated sugar, ½ cup (118 ml) of water, and 1 teaspoon (2 g) of lime zest. Stir the mixture well to ensure that all of the ingredients are well blended.
Simmer the mixture until the sugar dissolves. Place the pan on the stove, and turn the burner to medium-low. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, and allow it to cook until the sugar fully dissolves, which should take approximately 5 minutes. Be sure to whisk the mixture the entire time that it’s cooking to ensure that the sugar crystals don’t burn or stick to the pan.
Cool and strain the mixture. When the sugar has dissolved, remove the pan from the burner, and let it to cool completely, which should take approximately 10 to 15 minutes. Next, strain the syrup through a fine mesh sieve to remove the bits of lime zest and other clumps.
Add the lime juice to the syrup. After you’ve strained the cooled syrup, stir in ½ cup (118 g) of fresh lime juice. Mix well, and transfer the lime cordial to an airtight jar or other container. This recipe makes enough syrup for approximately four gimlets. If you have syrup leftover, keep it refrigerated. It will last for up to a month in the fridge.
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