Gillette Cocktail

Name: Gillette Cocktail
Yield: 1 drink
Cuisine: american
Ingredients: 2 1/4 ounces Old Tom gin, preferably Hayman’s; 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice; 1/2 teaspoon sugar

Recipe from Tom Bullock

Adapted by Robert Simonson

Gillette Cocktail — Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times

Rating: 4(128)
Comments: Read comments

This recipe is an early print appearance of the gimlet, under a different name, according to the cocktail historian David Wondrich. The gimlet that drinkers came to know in the years after Prohibition usually called for Rose’s Lime Juice, an achingly sweet potion. The St. Louis bartender Tom Bullock made his Gillette the way many mixologists make a gimlet today, with sugar and fresh lime juice instead of Rose’s. He also called for the mildly sweet Old Tom gin instead of a London dry gin. The three ingredients result in a drink both gentle and piquant. —Robert Simonson

Featured in: Tom Bullock’s ‘The Ideal Bartender’ Offers Words of Advice

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Ingredients

Yield:1 drink

2¼ounces Old Tom gin, preferably Hayman’s
½ounce fresh lime juice
½teaspoon sugar

Ingredient Substitution Guide

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Preparation

Step 1
Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker three-quarters filled with ice. Shake vigorously for about 30 seconds. Strain into a chilled coupe glass.

Ratings

4 out of 5

128 user ratings

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Comments

Rudolfo7 years ago

But a Gimlet is gin.

Alexander7 years ago

My go to cocktail year round is a Gimlet, but with an olive and a cocktail onion.
It never fails when I order this that the bartender says, "oh, you want a Gibson." No, I want Vodka on the rocks, a touch of Rose's and an olive and an onion. I say potato….

sippy7 years ago

This is majorly refreshing on a sweltering, southern day!

Joe2 years ago

Used a half ounce of simple syrup instead of the sugar, as it makes a smoother drink. Adjust according to the tartness of your limes.

Peter3 years ago

Bright, understated, lovely. I was surprised to see "gimlet" and "gin" together. In my experience, it has always been a vodka gimlet, but this is a more interesting drink, and using sugar and fresh lime juice elevates the drink. Rose's Lime Juice is just too syrupy for me.

Melanie6 years ago

Delicious when made with Whitley Neill Rhubarb and ginger Gin

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