The gimlet (/ˈɡɪmlət/) is a cocktail made of gin and lime cordial. A 1928 description of the drink was: gin, and a spot of lime.[1] A description in the 1953 Raymond Chandler novel The Long Goodbye stated that "a real gimlet is half gin and half Rose's lime juice and nothing else."[2] This is in line with the proportions suggested by The Savoy Cocktail Book (1930), which specifies one half gin and one half lime juice.[3] However, modern tastes are less sweet, and generally provide for up to four parts gin to one part lime cordial.[4]
The derivation of the name of the cocktail is contested. It may be named after the tool for drilling small holes (alluding to its "piercing" effect on the drinker) or after the surgeon Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Gimlette (1857–1943), who is said to have first added lime cordial to gin to help combat the ravages of scurvy on long voyages.
The word "gimlet" used in this sense is first attested in 1928. The most obvious derivation is from the tool for drilling small holes, a word also used figuratively to describe something as sharp or piercing. Thus, the cocktail may have been named for its "penetrating" effects on the drinker.[5]
Another theory is that the drink was named after the Royal Navy surgeon Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Gimlette (27 November 1857[6] – 4 October 1943[7]), who allegedly introduced this drink as a means of inducing his messmates to take lime juice as an anti-scurvy medication.[8] However, this association is not mentioned in his obituary notice in the BMJ,[9]The Times (6 October 1943), or his entry in Who Was Who 1941–1950.
Variationsedit
A variant of the cocktail, the vodka gimlet, replaces gin with vodka. The Schumann's Gimlet adds lemon juice and lime juice to the Gin.[10] The Pimmlet substitutes 2 parts Pimm's No. 1 Cup to 1 part London Dry Gin.[citation needed]
^Covey Crump, a 1955 dictionary of Royal Navy slang by Commander A.T.L. Covey-Crump, RN, a former Naval Assistant to the Chief of Naval Information. December 1, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
^"Deaths In The Services: Sir Thomas Gimlette KCB (1857-1943)". British Medical Journal. 2 (4320): 530. 23 October 1943. doi:10.1136/bmj.2.4320.530. PMC2285216.
^"Gimlet (Schumann's Recipe)". Difford's Guide. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
^Overheiser, Sonja (2020-02-27). "French Gimlet". A Couple Cooks. Retrieved 2023-07-01.
January 01, 1970
gimlet, cocktail, gimlet, cocktail, made, lime, cordial, 1928, description, drink, spot, lime, description, 1953, raymond, chandler, novel, long, goodbye, stated, that, real, gimlet, half, half, rose, lime, juice, nothing, else, this, line, with, proportions, . The gimlet ˈ ɡ ɪ m l e t is a cocktail made of gin and lime cordial A 1928 description of the drink was gin and a spot of lime 1 A description in the 1953 Raymond Chandler novel The Long Goodbye stated that a real gimlet is half gin and half Rose s lime juice and nothing else 2 This is in line with the proportions suggested by The Savoy Cocktail Book 1930 which specifies one half gin and one half lime juice 3 However modern tastes are less sweet and generally provide for up to four parts gin to one part lime cordial 4 GimletCocktailA vodka gimlet with mintTypeCocktailBase spiritGinServedStraight up chilled without iceStandard garnishLimeStandard drinkwareCocktail glassCommonly used ingredientsTwo to four parts gin One part sweetened lime juicePreparationMix and serve Garnish with a slice of lime The derivation of the name of the cocktail is contested It may be named after the tool for drilling small holes alluding to its piercing effect on the drinker or after the surgeon Rear Admiral Sir Thomas Gimlette 1857 1943 who is said to have first added lime cordial to gin to help combat the ravages of scurvy on long voyages Contents 1 Etymology 2 Variations 3 See also 4 ReferencesEtymology editThe word gimlet used in this sense is first attested in 1928 The most obvious derivation is from the tool for drilling small holes a word also used figuratively to describe something as sharp or piercing Thus the cocktail may have been named for its penetrating effects on the drinker 5 Another theory is that the drink was named after the Royal Navy surgeon Rear Admiral Sir Thomas Gimlette 27 November 1857 6 4 October 1943 7 who allegedly introduced this drink as a means of inducing his messmates to take lime juice as an anti scurvy medication 8 However this association is not mentioned in his obituary notice in the BMJ 9 The Times 6 October 1943 or his entry in Who Was Who 1941 1950 Variations editA variant of the cocktail the vodka gimlet replaces gin with vodka The Schumann s Gimlet adds lemon juice and lime juice to the Gin 10 The Pimmlet substitutes 2 parts Pimm s No 1 Cup to 1 part London Dry Gin citation needed A popular variation the French gimlet includes elderflower liqueur in lieu of simple syrup 11 See also edit nbsp Liquor portal List of cocktailsReferences editGimlet at Wikipedia s sister projects nbsp Definitions from Wiktionary nbsp Media from Commons nbsp Textbooks from Wikibooks nbsp Data from Wikidata D B Wesson I ll Never Be Cured III Chandler Raymond August 1992 1953 The Long Goodbye Vintage Books p 19 ISBN 0 394 75768 8 Craddock Harry 1930 The Savoy Cocktail Book PAT MUIR April 28 2022 On the Bar A gimlet isn t as good as a martini but made correctly it s still a fine drink Yakima Herald Republic gimlet Online Etymology Dictionary National Archives British Medical Journal 23 Oct 1943 p 530 Covey Crump a 1955 dictionary of Royal Navy slang by Commander A T L Covey Crump RN a former Naval Assistant to the Chief of Naval Information Archived December 1 2009 at the Wayback Machine Deaths In The Services Sir Thomas Gimlette KCB 1857 1943 British Medical Journal 2 4320 530 23 October 1943 doi 10 1136 bmj 2 4320 530 PMC 2285216 Gimlet Schumann s Recipe Difford s Guide Retrieved 9 February 2023 Overheiser Sonja 2020 02 27 French Gimlet A Couple Cooks Retrieved 2023 07 01 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gimlet cocktail amp oldid 1218313681, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
