The Cranberry Gimlet

I absolutely love a cranberry gimlet.

I’ve been making cranberry gimlets for years now. It is my favorite cocktail during the holiday season. Cranberry gimlets are tart, tangy, and not overly sweet. They are very easy to drink and easy to make, making them a great choice for entertaining.

The history of the gimlet goes back to 1867 when a gentleman named Lauchlin Rose patented a way to preserve lime juice with sugar for sailors to take on their ships to prevent scurvy. The sailors would mix Rose’s Lime Cordial with their ration of rum. The ship’s officers would add in the cordial to their more “civilized” gin. Of course back then on a ship there was no ice, but the great pairing of lime and gin was born. The origin of the name gimlet is a mystery. It could have been named for the small tool that is used to tap the barrels of spirits or to a naval Dr Gimlette (1857-1943), but no one knows for sure.

In the 1990s, Vodka became popular to use in gimlets, and you can use it here if you don’t like gin. However, I definitely prefer the taste that gin brings to this cocktail. The flavors of a smooth gin such as the The Botanist or Barr Hill work great, and though each of these are very different, both taste amazing in a cranberry gimlet.

Unsweetened cranberry juice can be found in most good grocery stores including Whole Foods and Trader Joes. It is worth the trouble to find it for cranberry gimlets; the unsweetened juice is what gives these gimlets their intense tartness that is so good. I think fresh squeezed lime juice is best here instead of Rose’s lime cordial. You can make candied cranberries, which are the perfect addition. If you make them, reserve the syrup and use that to sweeten the cocktail.

Cranberry gimlets can be made in batches ahead of time. The cocktails can be mixed in a pitcher the day of the event and add the ice as you make them in a cocktail shaker. I have some friends who are going to make a pitcher of these for Thanksgiving. I promise you these cranberry gimlets are the perfect thing to serve for a holiday cocktail party.

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The Cranberry Gimlet

Prep Time

5 mins

Total Time

5 mins

 

Servings: 1 cocktail

Ingredients

• 2 oz gin You can also use a citrus flavored vodka
• 3/4 oz fresh squeezed lime juice
• 1/2 oz agave syrup or the reserved syrup from candied cranberries
• 1 oz unsweetened cranberry juice

Optional candied cranberries, 3 on a toothpick

Instructions

1. Place a coup or martini glass in the freezer for a couple of minutes to chill.

2. Pour all the liquids in to a cocktail shaker. 
   

3. Take out the chilled glass and have ready. 
   

4. Fill the cocktail shaker with ice.

5. Cover the shaker with the lid and shake vigorously for several minutes, until the cocktail is ice cold. 
   

6. Strain into the chilled glass and serve immediately, garnished with the optional candied cranberries.