Uploaded October 2015 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
The Gimlet is a simple combination of Gin and Lime Cordial (sweetened lime juice). The drink was a favorite of Raymond Chandler, Ernest Hemingway and Chandler's ubiquitous character, Philip Marlowe.
The Gimlet has gone through a little bit of a renaissance. For years it's popularity had dwindled. But with the resurgence of the popularity of cocktails, it has made a healthy comeback. And inevitably whenever the drink is mentioned, the recipe in Raymond Chandler's The Long Goodbye is not far behind. Marlowe and his friend, Terry Lennox "sat in a corner of the bar at Victor's and drank gimlets. 'They don't know how to make them here,' [Lennox] said. 'What they call a gimlet is just some lime or lemon juice and gin with a dash of sugar and bitters. A real gimlet is half gin and half Rose's Lime Juice and nothing else. It beats martinis hollow.'"
At one point in time, this was hands down my favorite cocktail. There have been others that have surpassed it since then, but I don't know if I'd agree that it would be better than a Dry Martini (youtu.be/hIMrC9ezHYA). But then again, it's pretty hard to compare the two. They both offer something different and one is better than the other depending on the occasion or what you're in the mood for.
When the drink is made with gin, fresh lime juice and simple syrup, it's not the same as a Gimlet. It's more like a Daiquiri (youtu.be/Cxxm1pfXEts) with gin. There's nothing wrong with a using fresh lime juice, the fresh lime juice version is a great drink, it's just not a Gimlet. I don't agree with Lennox or the Savoy Cocktail Book that a Gimlet has to be 1:1, gin to lime cordial, but I do agree that it need to be made with Lime Cordial and not fresh lime juice.
The Lime Cordial (youtu.be/ktmXc6gaPmk) you use is really important. Do yourself a favor and make your own Lime Cordial. Even if you don't use the same recipe I do, it will be much better, brighter and more complex than Rose's, which is a shot in the teeth of industrial sugar and artificial flavor. It's a harsh, unpleasant slime in what is otherwise, a great drink. Like most pre-made mixers, you're way better off staying away. Chandler can be forgiven for recommending Rose's. One can only assume it was different in 1952. It certainly wasn't made with HFCS back then, so it was surely a different formula. The only responsible way to make a Gimlet is with a homemade lime cordial.
Later in The Long Goodbye, Marlowe goes back to Victor's bar and orders a Gimlet, but this time as a double. This is my preferred ratio. In fact, I could do a 4:1 ratio of gin to lime cordial, depending on the gin. But if don't like the taste of gin or are working your way up to it or if you just like sweeter drinks, the 1:1 ratio will be perfect for you.
The gin you use will certainly have a big impact on the flavor of the final product. A London Dry is usually called for and Beefeater is a good option. A Navy Strength gin makes a great Gimlet. I also like using St. George Spirits Terroir gin. But if you're still trying to find your sea legs with gin, you can't go wrong with Hendrick's. Any way you slice it, a Gimlet made with lime cordial and a good gin is an awesome drink. Chandler and his contemporary, Hemingway, would agree. Enjoy!
Recipe:
2 oz Gin
1 oz Lime Cordial
garnish Lime Twist (optional)
Stir with ice. Strain into chilled cocktail glass. Optionally, garnish with lime twist.
Music:
Trumpet Ballad Rain by Carlton Banksy
via JinglePunks
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Featured in This Episode:
Beefeater Gin
beefeatergin.com/dry
The 12 Bottle Bar by Lesley & David Solmonson
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The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler
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Hendricks Gin
us.hendricksgin.com
St. George Spirits Terroir Gin
stgeorgespirits.com/spirit/terroir-gin
Bar Tools:
Coupe Glass (1 oz larger)
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OXO Graduated Double Jigger
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Barspoon
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Vegetable Peeler
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Mixing Glass
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Hawthorne Strainer
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Mixing Glass & Hawthorne Strainer
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The Gimlet is a simple combination of Gin and Lime Cordial (sweetened lime juice). The drink was a favorite of Raymond Chandler, Ernest Hemingway and Chandler's ubiquitous character, Philip Marlowe.
The Gimlet has gone through a little bit of a renaissance. For years it's popularity had dwindled. But with the resurgence of the popularity of cocktails, it has made a healthy comeback. And inevitably whenever the drink is mentioned, the recipe in Raymond Chandler's The Long Goodbye is not far behind. Marlowe and his friend, Terry Lennox "sat in a corner of the bar at Victor's and drank gimlets. 'They don't know how to make them here,' [Lennox] said. 'What they call a gimlet is just some lime or lemon juice and gin with a dash of sugar and bitters. A real gimlet is half gin and half Rose's Lime Juice and nothing else. It beats martinis hollow.'"
At one point in time, this was hands down my favorite cocktail. There have been others that have surpassed it since then, but I don't know if I'd agree that it would be better than a Dry Martini (youtu.be/hIMrC9ezHYA). But then again, it's pretty hard to compare the two. They both offer something different and one is better than the other depending on the occasion or what you're in the mood for.
When the drink is made with gin, fresh lime juice and simple syrup, it's not the same as a Gimlet. It's more like a Daiquiri (youtu.be/Cxxm1pfXEts) with gin. There's nothing wrong with a using fresh lime juice, the fresh lime juice version is a great drink, it's just not a Gimlet. I don't agree with Lennox or the Savoy Cocktail Book that a Gimlet has to be 1:1, gin to lime cordial, but I do agree that it need to be made with Lime Cordial and not fresh lime juice.
The Lime Cordial (youtu.be/ktmXc6gaPmk) you use is really important. Do yourself a favor and make your own Lime Cordial. Even if you don't use the same recipe I do, it will be much better, brighter and more complex than Rose's, which is a shot in the teeth of industrial sugar and artificial flavor. It's a harsh, unpleasant slime in what is otherwise, a great drink. Like most pre-made mixers, you're way better off staying away. Chandler can be forgiven for recommending Rose's. One can only assume it was different in 1952. It certainly wasn't made with HFCS back then, so it was surely a different formula. The only responsible way to make a Gimlet is with a homemade lime cordial.
Later in The Long Goodbye, Marlowe goes back to Victor's bar and orders a Gimlet, but this time as a double. This is my preferred ratio. In fact, I could do a 4:1 ratio of gin to lime cordial, depending on the gin. But if don't like the taste of gin or are working your way up to it or if you just like sweeter drinks, the 1:1 ratio will be perfect for you.
The gin you use will certainly have a big impact on the flavor of the final product. A London Dry is usually called for and Beefeater is a good option. A Navy Strength gin makes a great Gimlet. I also like using St. George Spirits Terroir gin. But if you're still trying to find your sea legs with gin, you can't go wrong with Hendrick's. Any way you slice it, a Gimlet made with lime cordial and a good gin is an awesome drink. Chandler and his contemporary, Hemingway, would agree. Enjoy!
Recipe:
2 oz Gin
1 oz Lime Cordial
garnish Lime Twist (optional)
Stir with ice. Strain into chilled cocktail glass. Optionally, garnish with lime twist.
Music:
Trumpet Ballad Rain by Carlton Banksy
via JinglePunks
Follow Us!
facebook.com/DistinguishedSpirits
instagram.com/distinguishedspirits
twitter.com/DistinguishedSp
pinterest.com/DistinguishedSp
Featured in This Episode:
Beefeater Gin
beefeatergin.com/dry
The 12 Bottle Bar by Lesley & David Solmonson
amzn.to/2q7ws84
The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler
amzn.to/2q7J2UT
Hendricks Gin
us.hendricksgin.com
St. George Spirits Terroir Gin
stgeorgespirits.com/spirit/terroir-gin
Bar Tools:
Coupe Glass (1 oz larger)
amzn.to/1ADQJD8
OXO Graduated Double Jigger
amzn.to/1EP3Cp8
Barspoon
amzn.to/1FfLxB4
Vegetable Peeler
amzn.to/1AA2s69
Mixing Glass
amzn.to/1QgQ7oN
Hawthorne Strainer
amzn.to/1FfK2mB
Mixing Glass & Hawthorne Strainer
amzn.to/1FT6maj
