The gimlet (/ˈɡɪmlət/) is a cocktail made of gin and lime cordial. A 1928 description of the drink was: gin, and a spot of lime.[1] A description in the 1953 Raymond Chandler novel The Long Goodbye stated that "a real gimlet is half gin and half Rose's lime juice and nothing else."[2] This is in line with the proportions suggested by The Savoy Cocktail Book (1930), which specifies one half gin and one half lime juice.[3] However, some modern tastes are less sweet, and generally provide for up to four parts gin to one part lime cordial.[4]
| Cocktail | |
|---|---|
 A vodka gimlet with mint | |
| Type | Cocktail |
| Base spirit | |
| Served | Straight up: chilled, without ice |
| Standard garnish | Lime |
| Standard drinkware |  |
| Commonly used ingredients | |
| Preparation | Mix and serve. Garnish with a slice of lime |
Etymology
editThe word "gimlet" used in this sense is first attested in 1928. The most obvious derivation is from the tool for drilling small holes, a word also used figuratively to describe something as sharp or piercing. Thus, the cocktail may have been named for its "penetrating" effects on the drinker.[5]
Another theory is that the drink was named after the Royal Navy surgeon Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Gimlette (27 November 1857[6] – 4 October 1943[7]), who allegedly introduced this drink as a means of inducing his messmates to take lime juice as an anti-scurvy medication.[8] However, this association is not mentioned in his obituary notice in the BMJ,[9] The Times (6 October 1943), or his entry in Who Was Who 1941–1950.
Variations
editA variant of the cocktail, the vodka gimlet, replaces gin with vodka. The Schumann's Gimlet adds lemon juice and lime juice to the Gin.[10] The Bennett adds bitters.[11] The Pimmlet substitutes 2 parts Pimm's No. 1 Cup to 1 part London Dry Gin.[citation needed] Notably, the screwdriver (cocktail), another cocktail made from a clear spirit and a citrus juice, is also named after a common handtool.
A popular variation, the French gimlet, includes elderflower liqueur.[12]
See also
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References
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Definitions from Wiktionary
Media from Commons
Textbooks from Wikibooks
Data from Wikidata
- ^ D. B. Wesson, I'll Never Be Cured III
- ^ Chandler, Raymond (August 1992) [1953]. The Long Goodbye. Vintage Books. p. 19. ISBN 0-394-75768-8.
- ^ Craddock, Harry (1930). The Savoy Cocktail Book.
- ^ PAT MUIR (April 28, 2022). "On the Bar: A gimlet isn't as good as a martini, but made correctly it's still a fine drink". Yakima Herald-Republic.
- ^ "gimlet". Online Etymology Dictionary.
- ^ National Archives
- ^ British Medical Journal, 23 Oct 1943, p. 530
- ^ Covey Crump, a 1955 dictionary of Royal Navy slang by Commander A.T.L. Covey-Crump, RN, a former Naval Assistant to the Chief of Naval Information. Archived December 1, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Deaths In The Services: Sir Thomas Gimlette KCB (1857-1943)". British Medical Journal. 2 (4320): 530. 23 October 1943. doi:10.1136/bmj.2.4320.530. PMC 2285216.
- ^ "Gimlet (Schumann's Recipe)". Difford's Guide. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- ^ "Bennett Cocktail". Difford's Guide. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ Overheiser, Sonja (2020-02-27). "French Gimlet". A Couple Cooks. Retrieved 2023-07-01.