Mixing Drinks

Gimlet is a word that goes back to Middle English and has to do with sharpness and the quality of penetration. A gimlet is a sharp little hand tool for boring holes, and a “gimlet-eyed” individual possesses a piercing gaze. Take your cue form the history of this word: A gimlet should meet the taste buds with an eye-opening sharpness.

The best gimlets are made from freshly squeezed lime or, for a delicious variation, freshly squeezed limon (the offspring of a lime-lemon cross).

If your don’t have fresh limes or don’t want to exert the effort to squeeze them, use Rose’s lime juice.

Gimlet with Fresh Lime

Serve in a chilled old-fashioned or lowball glass.

2 oz. gin
½ oz. fresh (or limon) juice
Lime twist or lime slice

Stir gin and juice very vigorously in a mixing (shaker) glass with cracked ice; pour into the serving glass. Garnish with a lime twist or lime slice. May also be served straight-up: Stir with ice cubes, then strain into the serving glass.

Gimlet with Rose’s Lime Juice

Serve in a chilled old-fashioned or lowball glass.

2 oz. gin
½ oz. Rose’s lime juice
Lime slice
Use a shaker or blender to mix the gin and Rose’s with cracked ice; pour into the serving glass. The best garnish is a lime slice, which gets more of the natural juice into the drink. May also be served straight-up Strain the shaken or blended ingredients into the serving glass.

Tom Collins

Serve on the rocks in a Collins or highball glass.

2-3 oz. gin Club soda to fill
1 ½ oz. lemon juice Maraschino cherry
1 ½ oz. sugar syrup

Combine all ingredients except club soda and cherry in the serving glass with ice. Stir well. Fill club soda, and garnish with the cherry.

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