Vodka Gimlet Recipe

This Classic Vodka Gimlet Cocktail is a drink recipe from scratch that can be served shaken or on the rocks with fresh lime and simple syrup. With only 139 calories you will want to add this clean drink to your rotation! 

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I like to serve this drink straight up! Feel free to serve it on the rocks if you prefer.

What is a Gimlet? What’s in the Drink?

Why is it called a gimlet? Historically, a gimlet was referred to as a drink that required 2 parts gin and one part lime juice. A film in the ’50s stated that the drink is half gin and half Rose’s Lime juice and nothing else.

Somewhere along the way vodka fans, like myself, came in and wanted a piece of the action, and thus a similar drink came about.

What Type of Vodka to Use

I typically use Kettle One or Tito’s vodka. This is a smooth drink, so you should use whatever you consider smooth vodka.

How to Make a Vodka Gimlet

1. If you would like to serve the cocktail chilled, grab a cocktail shaker, vodka, fresh lime juice, and simple syrup to the shaker.
2. Pour the drink into a glass. 
3. Serve over ice if preferred.

What’s in Rose’s Lime Juice?

You may see gimlet recipes that call for this juice. It’s a sweetened juice from concentrate that is often used in mixed drinks. It’s made with artificial flavors. The ingredients are water, high fructose corn syrup, lime juice concentrate, sodium metabisulfite, natural flavors, and Blue 1.

Sodium metabisulfite is a food preservative used in potato preparation, cherry brining, and corn syrup manufacturing.

Blue 1 is a dye and coloring for processed foods.

In my opinion, you are better off using the juice from real, fresh limes. You can use the same amount of the sweetened lime juice if you wish.

How to Make Simple Syrup

This recipe calls for simple syrup, which is one part sugar or sweetener and one part water. I like to use this zero carb, zero-calorie organic monkfruit simple syrup , it also keeps the drink skinny.

You make syrup by heating it in a saucepan on the stove over medium-high heat. The mixture will look cloudy, as you continue to stir it will turn clear signaling it has finished.

For one cocktail, you would only need 1/2 tablespoon of sweetener and 1/2 tablespoon of water. In general, it makes sense to make your own simple syrup when making large batches.

How Many Calories

The cocktail has 139 calories using zero carb, zero-calorie organic monkfruit simple syrup. If you use refined sugar it will have 188 calories.

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