Rosemary Cucumber Gimlet Cocktail
Light and refreshing, this Rosemary Cucumber Gimlet Cocktail is a fun summer twist on this classic cocktail!
The Gimlet: A Classic Gin Cocktail
The Gimlet is one of those classic gin cocktails.
The concept is basically a gin sour, with the lemon juice swapped for lime. We find whispers of the recipe as early as the mid 1800s in the concept of mixing gin, sugar, water and lime juice in a drink that was called a Lime Cordial.
The Origin of the Gimlet Cocktail
Like anything with a lot of history, there are many claims to the origin of the gimlet.
It is possible that the name comes from the small hand tool, of the same name, used to drill holes. Thanks to this tool, the word "gimlet" came to mean anything that was sharp or piercing. Original cocktails may have been seen as having a piercing effect on the drinker, hence the name was given.
Another possibility is that the drink bears the name of British navy officer Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Desmond Gimlette, who served as the doctor for his shipmates in the later part of the 1800s and early 1900s. At that time, citrus juice was often served to British sailors to prevented them from catching scurvy, a nasty disease that comes from vitamin C deficiency. As acting doctor, Gimlette is said to have mixed gin with lime juice in order to mask the bitter taste of the lime juice he prescribed as anti-scurvy medicine.
Our Rosemary Cucumber Gimlet Cocktail Recipe
Once medicine, now a classic cocktail. Either way, this drink is a delicious blend of bright and tart from the lime juice with just a hint of sweetness.
We've dressed up the classic gin cocktail a bit by adding some muddled cucumber and rosemary. Cucumber brings a beautiful freshness to the drink and the rosemary brings out the botanical flavors of the gin, making this a refreshing summer drink to remember.
Cucumber Rosemary Gimlet
Ingredients
- 3 inch sprig fresh rosemary (plus extra for garnish)
- 2 thick slices cucumber (plus a spear or slice to garnish)
- 2 oz gin
- 1 large lime, juiced (roughly 1 oz juice) (Save a slice to garnish the glass)
- .5 oz simple syrup*
- 4-5 ice cubes
Instructions
- Strip the rosemary leaves from the stem and place them along with the cucumber slices in a cocktail shaker (or pint glass). Muddle the rosemary and cucumber until well crushed and fragrant.
- Add the gin, lime juice, simple syrup, and ice. Cover your shaker and shake well (or, if using a pint glass, stir the heck out of it) until the drink is cold and well mixed.
- Strain the drink into your serving glass over a couple cubes of ice (if desired). Garnish the glass with a sprig of rosemary, a cucumber spear, and a lime slice.
Notes
Nutrition
Sarah founded Curious in 2010 as a way to save her recipe creations and share culinary experiences. Her love for cultural cuisines was instilled early by her French Canadian Grandmother. Her experience in the kitchen and in recipe development comes from over 10 years working in professional kitchens. She has traveled extensively and enjoys bringing the flavors of her travels back to create easy-to-make recipes.
