British · Drinks · SAMPLE RECIPE

Gimlet · gin & lime cordial

Gin stirred with sweet-tart lime cordial and served cold in a small stemmed glass. A compact, citrus-led classic with a clean, simple finish.

From The Saucey Life kitchen • Serves 2

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Pale translucent yellow-green Gimlet in a small coupe with one thin lime wheel, no ice or other garnish — AI-generated serving inspiration for a sample recipe.

PREP7 min

TOTAL7 min

SERVES2

A NOTE FROM THE KITCHEN

This is the lime-cordial style of gimlet.

Use a purchased sweetened lime juice cordial, such as Rose’s lime cordial, not a ready-to-drink lime soda or unsweetened juice. Fresh-lime-and-syrup gimlets are another familiar version. This one starts at two parts gin to one part cordial and is stirred, not served over ice.

Ready to get started? The ingredients and steps are right below.

LET’S MAKE SOMETHING GOOD

Gimlet · gin & lime cordial

Sample recipe awaiting kitchen testing. Timings are estimates. Contains alcohol.

The good part

Check off each step as you cook.

Chill the glasses.Fill small coupes with ice and prepare the lime wheels. Measure the gin and lime cordial.
Stir until cold.Put gin and cordial in a mixing glass or sturdy jug with plenty of ice. Stir for about 25–30 seconds until very cold and slightly diluted.
Strain and garnish.Discard the serving-glass ice and meltwater. Strain the drink evenly into the coupes, place a lime wheel naturally at the edge of each, and serve immediately.

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BEHIND THE DISH · British gin-and-lime traditions

Gimlet · gin & lime cordialBeyond the plate.

Gin and sweetened lime cordial make a short cocktail with a different character from freshly squeezed lime and sugar.

ORIGINS & EVOLUTION

The cordial tradition remains recognizable.

The gimlet is closely associated with British gin and preserved lime cordial. Colorful accounts of its first maker and its name compete with one another. The established gin-and-cordial combination is a firmer starting point than choosing a single origin story.

CULTURAL CONTEXT

Two familiar ways to make a gimlet.

Modern recipes often use fresh lime and simple syrup, while others keep the cordial. Neither tastes exactly like the other: cordial combines sweetness and lime in one prepared ingredient. Stirred and shaken preparations also coexist in contemporary bar recipes.

AT THE TABLE

Two parts gin to one part cordial.

We choose a stirred cordial version, using a purchased sweetened lime juice cordial such as Rose’s. No separate syrup or fresh juice is added. A lime wheel finishes the chilled drink, with no ice left in the serving glass.

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