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Classic Gin Gimlet Recipe

5 from 6 votes
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An iconic cocktail from years gone by, the Gin Gimlet is a drink that has stood the test of time and still remains a popular drink in bars worldwide.

If you are looking for another gin classic, try the suffering bastard cocktail, it’s delicious.

two glasses of Classic Gin Gimlet garnish with a slice of lime
Gin Gimlet

This year Karlynn and I decided to put together a vintage home bar in the bonus room of our house. With the rising cost of cocktails and our love of vintage bar ware, it was an easy decision. Once the room was finished, we figured the best way to kick things off and introduce it to all of our friends was to throw a Mad Men themed party featuring some of the popular cocktails from the series. Also, considering the room is themed around the 1950-70’s, it fit well with the decor.

Side note: You can get an inside look at how the room looks in Karlynn’s latest post: How to Throw a Mad Men Party.  As part of the party, we decided to provide “cocktail stations” featuring drink recipes based on characters from the show. This cocktail, the Gin Gimlet, was a favorite of Betty Draper’s so I decided to include it.

Here’s a look at the card I made; including the fun character profile; for Betty Draper’s Gin Gimlet cocktail station:

Gin Gimlet cocktail station with fun character profile of Betty Draper

This particular drink was a huge hit at the party and to this day, we are still making it regularly around the house for a number of reasons; it’s super easy to make and it tastes amazing. If you like Lime and Gin, this is the drink for you.

Close up glass of a Gin Gimlet garnish with a slice of lime on white background
Close up of a Gin Gimlet.

Side note: The glass you see above was picked up while thrifting and came with a similarly beautiful ice bucket. It’s part of our vintage bar ware collection and fit so beautifully with this drink that I had to use it. That, and of course, Karlynn knows how to take a mean picture.

How to Make a Gin Gimlet

To make a Gin Gimlet, you need the following simple ingredients:

  • Gin (your choice but we prefer Bombay Sapphire in these.
  • Lime Juice
  • Lime slices for garnish
  • Rose’s Lime Cordial (which you can buy below or from Wine and Beyond here in Canada):
    [amazon_link asins=’B00MXXS9ZA’ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’magpie-inpost-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’35a10146-c858-11e6-a051-b79c6d868a08′]If you prefer to skip the cordial (although I do think it tastes better) you can get away with increasing the lime juice and adding simple syrup instead.

Combine these ingredients in a Boston shaker and shake with ice. Pour into a cocktail glass and garnish with a lime.

Watch our Gin Gimlet Video

Also, do know that like most drinks from the 50-70’s, this is a strong drink and uses quite a bit of hard alcohol. To prepare enough for two drinks (because why make just one) add 4 ounces of your gin of choice to a shaker with ice, add 1 oz Rose’s Lime Cordial and 1 oz lime juice.  If you don’t have lime cordial, you can use lime juice and simple syrup instead.  Shake well, pour over ice and garnish with a slice of lime.

Enjoy and yes, it is acceptable to prepare this in a pitcher and keep it in the fridge. If you do, keep in mind that lemon juice tends to settle within drinks if you leave it sitting and will end up looking as though you have a floating ball of juice within your drink. This is normal, simply give it a stir and it will dissipate again. However, we’ve never had to store it yet as people were drinking it by the pitcher. It’s that good.

Two Gin Gimlets with slices of lime ready to serve.
Two Gin Gimlets ready to serve.

To see all of the other drinks and the write up on the Mad Men Party, click these links below!

How to Throw a Mad Men Party

Classic Manhattan Recipe

Old Fashioned Recipe

And there you have it! All the booze that you need for your Mad Men Themed Party!

Happy (and responsible) drinking everyone! Love you more than Old Fashioned’s,

Mike (aka Mr Magpie)

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The classic lime flavoured gin gimlet, a mid-century cocktail favourite! #gin #lime #cocktail #alcohol #party #beverage #booze #lime

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Gin Gimlet Recipe

Get the perfect Gin Gimlet Recipe, the light and refreshing drink that was a favorite of Mad Men character, Betty Draper.
5 from 6 votes
Gin Gimlet
Prep Time
5 minutes
Total Time
5 minutes
Course
Cocktail
Cuisine
American
Servings
2
Calories
149
Author
Karlynn Johnston

Ingredients
 

  • ounces Gin Bombay Sapphire or similar
  • 2 ounces Rose's Lime Cordial
  • 1 ounce Lime Juice
  • 1 slice Lime for garnish

Instructions
 

  •  To prepare enough for two drinks (because why make just one) add 4 ounces of your gin of choice to a shaker with ice.
  • Add 1 oz Rose's Lime Cordial.
  • Add 1 oz lime juice.
  • Shake well, pour over ice and garnish with a slice of lime.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

You can also use simple syrup instead of cordial if you want it a bit less lime tasting.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 149kcal, Carbohydrates: 5g, Sodium: 1mg, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin C: 5.1mg

All calories and info are based on a third party calculator and are only an estimate. Actual nutritional info will vary with brands used, your measuring methods, portion sizes and more.

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Mr. Kitchen Magpie

Hey everyone! I'm Mike (Mr. Kitchen Magpie). When I'm not sharing cocktail recipes here and on my Instagram (@mrkitchenmagpie), I'm enjoying a nice bottle of scotch in a vintage glass from my barware collection.

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  1. Jillian says

    I felt so grown up and fancy drinking this cocktail. Awesome drink, my husband and I both enjoyed it. Also love the glass, as per usual! Thanks Mike!5 stars

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