French Gimlet Cocktail

This French gimlet cocktail recipe makes such a smooth drink. And there are only three ingredients to this spectacular and delicious cocktail!

Why elderberry liqueur enhances this cocktail

St. Germain or any other elderberry liqueur is a botanical liqueur so it would enhance any cocktail that also calls for gin since gin is also made from botanicals.

This gimlet is a perfect example of how well the two flavors meld together!

I’ve made cocktails with St. Germain liqueur such as the Chatelaine and the Frenchie.  But this cocktail is a first for me.  I spent a weekend at my brother’s house recently and he served this cocktail as one of our happy hour drinks along with the chili cheese dip as an appetizer.  They both were so delicious, I knew I had to make and blog about them.

My bro made this cocktail in a rocks glass but I thought it would also be fabulous in a martini glass.

I was right.

Bob first encountered this drink at a friend’s house but the name they used for it sounded made up.  I knew it was a real cocktail, so I played sleuth when I got home and found out it is indeed a French gimlet.

I’m so clever.

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Helpful tips

• Bombay Sapphire is a mid-level gin and is perfect in this cocktail. But if isn’t in your budget, Tanqueray will also work.
• My brother’s recipe called for half a lime per cocktail but I wanted to post a specific measurement for my readers. That said, half of a normal sized lime usually yields .5 ounce of lime juice, so half a lime per cocktail is a safe approximation.
• The ratio of the ingredients are 2:1:(1/2).
• Whenever you either zest a lime or cut a twist out of the skin, be sure you’ve washed the lime first.

How to wash and pick citrus

• If you are just washing one piece of citrus, use a natural, unscented hand soap, squirt some in your hand and rub over the fruit. Next, run cold water over the lime as you use the brush on the skin.
• If using a lot of citrus, place them in a bowl with three cups of water and 1 cup of white vinegar. After 10 minutes, remove the fruit and run them under cold water, using a brush to scrub the skin.
• Heavier fruit have more juice, so heft it in your hand when you’re in the market.
• In the store, squeeze the fruit lightly.  There should be a little give to it.  Do not pick the fruit if it is too firm.
•  The stronger the fruit smells, the fresher it is. So make sure to smell it too.
• Try to gauge the thickness of the rind. The thinner the rind, the more juice it will yield.
• Before juicing citrus, roll it between your palm and a hard surface like a counter. Doing this will help release the juice.

How to make a French gimlet cocktail

Pre-step

Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice, get a channeling knife or a paring knife and your glassware: I used an old fashioned glass and a martini glass.

Cut four wide lime twists and set aside for the garnish.

After measuring out each ingredient below, pour it into the cocktail shaker.

Step one

Gather the ingredients: gin, St. Germain liqueur and a lime.

Step two

Measure 6 ounces of gin.

Step three

Measure 3 ounces St. Germain or other elderberry liqueur.

Step four

Measure 1.5 ounce fresh lime juice.

Step five

Add ice to the old fashioned glass and cap shaker, strain and divide the gimlet between the two glasses.

Add 2 lime twists to each cocktail.

Which do you prefer?  On the rocks or straight up?

I think I like it on ice.  But it could be because it is so darned hot here at the moment.

Let’s see the vertical view.

Look at how refreshing that looks!!  Those sweat beads!!

I hope you enjoyed this French gimlet recipe!!  It’s so delicious!

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

If you’ve tried this recipe, I’d love the know 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!