Royal Navy / United Kingdom (late 19th century) · British
Gimlet (Gin & Lime, Sharp and Clean)
A two-ingredient classic done right — gin and fresh lime with a little sugar, stirred or shaken cold. The naval history, the fresh-lime versus cordial debate, and the perfect ratio.
Published June 26, 2026
Cultural context
The Gimlet grew out of the British Royal Navy's practice of mixing lime cordial with gin to fight scurvy on long voyages — Rose's Lime Juice, patented in 1867, was the original mixer. The classic 'cordial' version is sweet and old-fashioned; the modern bar favours fresh lime and a touch of sugar for a brighter, sharper drink.
The Gimlet is gin and lime, sharpened to a point. Two ingredients (plus a little sugar), shaken hard and served brutally cold — it’s crisp, clean and one of the great pre-dinner drinks.
Fresh lime, the modern way
The original used Rose’s lime cordial, a Navy anti-scurvy ration mixed into gin. It’s sweet and nostalgic. The modern bar swaps in fresh lime and a touch of sugar for something brighter and sharper — try both and choose.
Shake it hard
With fresh lime, the Gimlet wants a hard 10-second shake to chill, dilute and lightly aerate it. Double-strain into a chilled coupe so it lands silky, not slushy.
Gin you’d drink alone
It’s mostly gin, so the bottle matters — a crisp London dry is the classic call. For the rum version of the same idea, see the Daiquiri. More in the Drinks guide.
Ingredients
- 60 ml (2 oz) gin London dry keeps it crisp. The gin is most of the drink, so use one you like.
- 20 ml (0.66 oz) fresh lime juice Fresh lime makes a brighter, sharper Gimlet than bottled cordial.
- 15 ml (0.5 oz) simple syrup (1:1), to taste Or use 20 ml lime cordial in place of the fresh lime + syrup for the traditional version.
- lime wheel, to garnish
- ice
Method
Tap a step’s number to check it off as you go.
-
Add the gin, fresh lime juice and simple syrup to a shaker filled with ice.
Why: Citrus cocktails are shaken to chill, dilute and lightly aerate them into a brisk, lively drink.
-
Shake hard for 10–12 seconds until the shaker is frosted.
Why: A hard shake gets it properly cold and gives the right dilution for a sharp two-ingredient drink.
-
Double-strain into a chilled coupe and garnish with a lime wheel.
Why: Double-straining catches the fine ice shards so the served drink is clean and silky, not slushy.
A quick, anonymous tap — no review needed.
Variations
- Cordial (traditional)
Use 20 ml Rose's lime cordial instead of fresh lime and syrup for the original, sweeter naval version.
- Vodka Gimlet
Swap gin for vodka for a cleaner, more neutral drink.
- Cucumber
Muddle a few slices of cucumber before shaking for a cooling, garden-fresh edge.
Serving & Storage
Serve straight up in a chilled coupe, very cold. Sharp and clean — a great pre-dinner drink.
Pairs with: Oysters, Smoked salmon, Cucumber sandwiches, Ceviche.
Storage: Make to order. Gin keeps indefinitely; squeeze lime fresh each time for the brightest result.
Nutrition
Per serving (1 cocktail (~90 ml))
- Calories
- 180
- Protein
- 0 g
- Carbs
- 8 g
- Fat
- 0 g
- Fiber
- 0 g
- Sugar
- 7 g
- Sodium
- 0 mg
Estimated using standard ingredient data. Values vary with brands and substitutions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresh lime or lime cordial?
Both are legitimate. Cordial (like Rose's) is the historical original and gives a sweeter, more old-fashioned drink; fresh lime with a little sugar is the modern bar standard and tastes brighter and sharper. Try both and pick your side.
Shaken or stirred?
Shaken, when made with fresh lime — citrus wants a shake to aerate and chill it. A cordial-only Gimlet with no fresh juice can be stirred, since there's nothing to emulsify.
How is it different from a Daiquiri?
Same shape — spirit, lime, sugar — but the Gimlet uses gin and the Daiquiri uses rum. The base spirit changes everything about the character.
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