The Gimlet is the most economical of all classic cocktails. Gin and lime, and not much else. Naught's version swaps in our own lime leaf cordial for a brighter, more aromatic finish, with a small hit of fresh lime to sharpen it back up. Built on Naught Australian Dry Gin, where juniper and native botanicals carry the cordial cleanly.
INGREDIENTS:
- 50ml Australian Dry Gin
- 30ml Lime Leaf Cordial
- 10ml Lime Juice
GARNISH:
- Lime Leaf
INSTRUCTIONS:
Add all of the ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake hard for 15 seconds. Double strain into a chilled Nick and Nora glass.
To finish, garnish with a lime leaf on the rim of the glass.
The Gimlet: a quick history
Two origin stories share the credit. The popular one names Sir Thomas Gimlette, a Royal Navy surgeon who reportedly mixed lime juice into sailors' gin rations in the late 1800s to combat scurvy. The other points to the small hand tool of the same name, used for tapping casks. Either way, the cocktail only became practical thanks to Lauchlan Rose's 1867 patent on sweetened lime cordial, the first commercially preserved fruit drink, designed to keep British sailors scurvy-free on long voyages.
The cocktail was canonised by Raymond Chandler in his 1953 novel The Long Goodbye, where Terry Lennox declares that a real gimlet is half gin and half Rose's Lime Juice and nothing else
. Modern bartenders have moved on from that ratio, and from Rose's. Fresh lime, house cordials, and properly made gin now do the work that British sailors had to do without.
You'll also love
- Naught Southside, gin, lime, mint and sugar, the country-club cousin
- Bees Knees, the lemon and honey gin sour from Prohibition
- Naught Martini, the same gin, stripped right back
Frequently asked questions
What is a Gimlet cocktail?
A Gimlet is a classic gin and lime cocktail, traditionally made with gin and sweetened lime cordial in equal parts. It was originally a Royal Navy drink, used to dose sailors with the lime juice that kept scurvy at bay.
What is the difference between a Gimlet and a Daiquiri?
The two cocktails are close cousins. A Daiquiri is rum, lime, and sugar, while a Gimlet is gin and sweetened lime. Both are short, citrus-forward, and shaken hard.
Should I use fresh lime juice or lime cordial?
The traditional recipe uses lime cordial. Modern bartenders often split the difference, using cordial for body and sweetness with a small amount of fresh lime for sharpness. Naught's version uses our lime leaf cordial with a touch of fresh lime, the best of both.
What is lime leaf cordial?
Lime leaf cordial is a sweetened syrup infused with kaffir lime leaves rather than just lime juice. It has a brighter, more aromatic, almost floral citrus character. It works beautifully with juniper-forward gins like Naught Australian Dry.
