French Gimlet

By Steve Kilcullen Jump to Recipe

Elderflower liqueur adds a gentle sweetness to this tart and tangy cocktail.

In the 19th century, British sailors were given rations of gin to mix with their limes in order to ward off scurvy. The gin was procured by using a small hand-held drill, or gimlet, used to bore small holes in the barrels that carried their alcohol. Mixing the gin, lime and sugar together was their way of imbibing this specific medicinal cocktail, and it soon took on the name of their tool… The Gimlet.

I had my first traditional Gimlet only a few days ago. Simple, tart and easy to make with only three ingredients, the original recipe for this drink was a pleasant surprise. I prefer more lemon flavored drinks to lime, but I found the Gimlet to have just enough of the tart lime flavor to really pucker my lips without overpowering the other two ingredients. When I found out I’d be writing about the French Gimlet today, I got pretty excited. The French Gimlet is made the same way as the traditional, with only one difference…

Instead of mixing in simple syrup, as you do in the original, a French Gimlet requires elderflower liqueur, which is made from fresh elderflowers hand-picked in the French Alps, in the Savoie region of France. The liqueur retains the sweet aspect of the sugar in the simple syrup, but the flavor of the elderflower cuts through the gin and lime just enough, giving a perfect floral blend.

An original Gimlet is good. A French Gimlet takes me to the Champs-Elysée and the sidewalks of Paris, without ever getting off the sofa. Ooh la la!

What is the best gin for a French Gimlet?

The star of the French Gimlet is, without a doubt, the elderflower liqueur. The most popular brand you can find is St-Germain. When choosing a gin to make this cocktail, I would definitely go with a good, strong London Dry, so that the elderflower flavor can make a perfect entrance with every sip. Of course, you can always make your French Gimlets with Scottish, Irish or California gins, all infused with different types of ingredients and flavors for subtle variations. Making these cocktails for yourself is all about what you like.

What kind of glass and garnish should you use for a French Gimlet?

A suave and sexy drink like the French Gimlet deserves to be dressed up nice. While a perfectly chilled coupe glass isn’t the only way to serve this cocktail, it is the best looking. And with a twist of lime to top it off, you’ll have the best dressed drink at the soiree.

Can I adjust the amount of elderflower liqueur in my French Gimlet?

Of course you can. Some people still find this version of the cocktail to be a little too tart for their palate. Adding an extra half-measure of the elderflower liqueur might be just enough to balance the flavors out, if that is your preference. Careful, though. A little goes a long way with elderflower liqueur, you really don’t need a lot.

I’ve never been to France. Is drinking a French Gimlet the next best thing?

Oui.

French Gimlet Variations

One of the many things I love about cocktails, is that every one that exists has any number of different versions, variations and off-shoot recipes. The French Gimlet is no different. Before giving all those other drinks a spin, Twist and Toast has a classic Gimlet for you to try out.

A few other versions you can try:

• The Vodka French Gimlet – Just like the name suggests, swap out the gin for a good, crisp vodka and you’ll have a potent concoction on your hands.
• A Bohemian Gimlet – The Bohemian Gimlet is another simple variation. Just use grapefruit juice instead of lime juice, super easy. And tasty.
• There are also other simple ways to add some different flavors to your cocktail, such as muddling blackberries, strawberries or raspberries in your shaker. You can also infuse sprigs of rosemary or basil when you shake your Gimlet up for serving.