Vodka Cucumber Gimlet: Refreshing & Delicious

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History Of The Gimlet

“A real gimlet is half gin and half Rose’s Lime Juice and nothing else.” When Raymond Chandler’s Philip Marlow said this in 1953 in the novel The Long Goodbye, the gimlet was officially here to stay. While traditionally made with gin, we are going to use vodka (but if you’re dead set on gin, swap it out and follow the rest of the recipe.)

Even if you’ve never bought a bottle of Rose’s lime juice for your home, you’ve almost certainly had it in a cocktail at a bar before. In the mid 1800’s, it was invented in order to keep lime juice from spoiling without the use of alcohol. The secret was adding a boat load of sugar to lime juice and the liquid wouldn’t spoil. Clever, right?

This sweetened lime juice was then mixed with gin, and the gimlet was a simple, VERY drinkable, quick cocktail for the British Royal Navy. The sailors were said to have used the drink as means of avoiding scurvy. Over the next 100 years, it climbed to popularity and has been around ever since!

A Fresh Twist

We’ve already confessed we are using vodka instead of gin, but the big reveal is that we are also not using Rose’s Lime Juice. Stick around and give this a try, we are almost positive you won’t have just one.

Since Rose’s is really just lime juice, sugar and high fructose corn syrup (ew!) we are going to use fresh, clean ingredients and make our gimlet from scratch. By using fresh lime juice and simple syrup, we are essentially making the same drink without all of the extra garbage.

The last thing we are tweaking is the addition of a couple slices of fresh cucumber to our drink. If you have never had a cocktail with cucumber, you are living in the dark ages! It is like summer in a glass. And who doesn’t crave a little summer all year round?

Up Or On The Rocks

Our recipe calls for the gimlet to be served up, in a martini or coupe glass, but you’re welcome to pour yours into a glass with ice! Both are always a good idea.