[1] Finish summer in style with a Strawberry Basil Gimlet (photo © Ruth’s Chris Steak House).

[2] A classic Gimlet. The recipe is below (Abacus Photo).

Here‘s a “berry” summery drink: a Strawberry Basil Gimlet. If you’re not a gin fan, you can substitute tequila or vodka.

We were inspired by this photo from Ruth’s Chris Steak House to make a batch yesterday.

The recipe follows. Also below:

> The history of the Gimlet.

> The classic Gimlet recipe.

Elsewhere on The Nibble:

> The history of gin.

> The different types (expressions) of gin.

> The year’s 14 gin holidays.
 
 
RECIPE #1: STRAWBERRY BASIL GIMLET

Ingredients Per Cocktail

 
Preparation

1. MUDDLE the strawberry and basil leaves in a cocktail shaker with simple syrup. If you’re making multiple cocktails, it’s easier to purée.

2. ADD gin, lemon juice and ice, and shake well.

3. STRAIN into a rocks glass with ice. Garnish with a basil leaf and large berry, notched onto the rim.

The classic Gimlet has just three ingredients: gin, fresh lime juice, and simple syrup.
 
Ingredients Per Drink

 
Preparation

1. CHILL a coupe or cocktail glass in the freezer for 15-30 minutes.

2. ADD the gin, lime juice, and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker. Fill the shaker with ice, cover, and shake vigorously for 15-20 seconds until the outside of the shaker is frosted.

3. STRAIN into the chilled cocktail glass. Garnish and serve

Variations

 

[3] A Cucumber Gimlet (Gemini Photo).
 
 
GIMLET HISTORY

A gimlet is a tool for drilling small holes; the name was also used figuratively to describe something as sharp or piercing.

The word “gimlet” for a cocktail was first used around 1928—perhaps for its effects on the drinker. According to Wikipedia, another theory is that the drink was named after British Royal Navy Surgeon Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Gimlette KCB (who served 1879 to 1913).

Gimlette allegedly introduced the drink as a means of inducing his messmates to drink lime juice as an anti-scurvy medication. (Limes and other citrus fruit have been used by the Royal Navy for the prevention of scurvy since the mid-18th century.)

A 1928 description of the drink was “gin, a spot of lime, and soda.” In his 1953 novel. “The Long Goodbye,” Raymond Chandler wrote that “a real gimlet is half gin and half Rose’s lime juice cordial and nothing else.”

Note that while the idea of Rose’s sweet, syrupy lime juice* may offend modern tastes, it was popularly used in Chandler’s day. Nothing is better in a gimlet than fresh lime juice.

However, if you want to try old school gimlet with lime juice cordial, here’s a homemade lime juice cordial recipe and the reason why you should make your own.

Replace the lime juice and simple syrup with 3/4 to 1 ounce of the lime juice cordial.
 

[4] A Grapefruit Gimlet (photo © Madison Restaurant | London).
 
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*While the original Rose’s was made with sugar, the ingredients today include water, high fructose corn syrup, lime juice concentrate, preservatives like sodium metabisulphite, and natural flavors, with added colorings like Blue 1 in some versions.
 

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