Gimlet — three-ingredient gin drink started as a way to prevent

This three-ingredient gin drink started as a way to prevent scurvy at sea. British naval officers mixed their daily lime ration with gin to make medicine go down easier.

Ingredients

• 2 oz gin
• 1 oz fresh lime juice
• 1 oz simple syrup to balance the tartness
• 1 lime wheel
• Garnish: a lime wheel

Method

Grab your shaker and fill it with ice. Add the gin first, then the lime juice, then the simple syrup. The order doesn’t matter much here, but building base to modifier keeps things consistent. Shake hard for 12 seconds — you want this cold and properly diluted. The Gimlet should be crisp, not harsh. Double strain it into your coupe to catch any ice chips or lime pulp. You want a clean, clear cocktail that looks as sharp as it tastes.

Serve

Serve this up in a coupe with no ice. Drop in a lime wheel for garnish — it adds a touch of aromatics when the lime oils hit the surface.

Pro Tip

The classic Gimlet is all about balance between gin’s botanicals and lime’s tartness. But try swapping the simple syrup for elderflower liqueur — just half an ounce instead of three-quarters. The floral notes play beautifully with both gin and lime, and you get a more complex sweetness. Some bars use lime cordial for authenticity, but unless you’re making your own, stick with fresh juice and simple syrup. The drink tastes cleaner and lets the gin shine through.