The Bennett Cocktail

The Bennett cocktail recipe is delightfully refreshing and perfectly balanced for a simple gin cocktail that guarantees to impress your guests! Just add gin, lime juice, simple syrup, and bitters.

This cocktail is unassuming and the flavors are delicious! It’s a twist on the classic gimlet cocktail so if you love a good gimlet, you’ll adore this drink. It’s also perfect for your next cocktail party.

If you ordered one at a bar or in a restaurant, you might look at it and think, “This is it?” Actually, it looks a lot like the classic daiquiri or the vodka gimlet, which are both scrumptious cocktails in their own right. It’s not dramatic, like the pink lady or blueberry mint cosmo.

So, do not let its lackluster appearance discourage you from ordering this classic cocktail or making one at home. You’ll be sad you didn’t try it sooner once you find out how delicious it is.

I seem to always say that certain cocktails are well balanced. And the Bennett cocktail is no different.

What makes a cocktail balanced?

A cocktail is said to be balanced when the ingredients harmonize with each other, which also means that none of the ingredients stand out from or overpower the others. Hence, balanced!

Now, if that doesn’t make you want to try this Bennett cocktail, I don’t know what would.

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Helpful tips

• Whenever you juice citrus and/or use lime as a garnish, make sure to wash the fruit. Here’s how: You can either use a cloth specifically used for washing fruit and vegetables. It’s coarse on one side and smooth on the other. The coarse part is great for scrubbing the skin and the smooth side is good for shining the fruit.
• If you don’t have the cloth, you can squirt some unscented, natural hand soap in your palm and rub the skin of the fruit between your hands. Thoroughly rinse the fruit under cold water.
• Any gin will work with this cocktail, but I love using a London dry gin.
• I have a bunch of different flavored bitters, but the best one to use in this cocktail is the aromatic bitters like the brand Angostura.

How to make a Bennett cocktail

Pre-step

Fill your cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Get a measuring glass and glassware.

After measuring out each ingredient, add it to your cocktail shaker.

Step one

Gather the ingredient:  dry gin, lime, simple syrup and Angostura bitters.

Step two

Measure out 4 ounces of gin.

Step three

Squeeze 2 ounces of lime juice (approximately 2 limes) and cut a few lime wheels out of another lime.

Step four

Measure out 2 ounce of simple syrup.

I know I’ve talked before about making my own simple syrup. Big surprise, I’m going to do it again.

Homemade is less costly and tastes better.  The end.

How to make simple syrup?

Combine equal parts (1 cup : 1 cup), white sugar and water in a sauce pan and turn the heat to medium.  Boil for 5 minutes, let the syrup cool completely and transfer to a Ball jar or other glass container for storage.

Does it matter what kind of sugar I use?

I have made simple syrup from white sugar and cane sugar. White sugar makes the syrup clear. Cane sugar makes it darker, almost brown. I do prefer clear simple syrup just because it doesn’t change the color of the cocktail.

Step five

I shake out 6 – 8 drops of Angostura bitters.

Step six

Place the lid on the shaker and shake vigorously for 15 seconds. Pour, strain, and divide the liquid between the 2 martini glasses and place a lime wheel in each cocktail.

Here’s the vertical view.

This overhead view gives you the full, unassuming simplicity of the Bennett cocktail.

Delicious!

I hope you enjoyed this Bennett cocktail recipe and I hope you TRY it!

And as always, may your dishes/drinks be delish!

If you’ve tried this or any other recipe on the blog, I’d love the hear what you thought about it in the comments below.  I love hearing from you!  You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST  to see more of my delicious food and delightful cocktails!