Vodka Gimlet Cocktail

This Vodka Gimlet Cocktail is a refreshing, light holiday cocktail or aperitif made with vodka, elderflower liqueur, fresh basil, and lemon juice. Served with ice cubes, this easy recipe only takes 5 minutes to whip up, and it’s perfect for the holiday season.

The History of The Gimlet…

The gimlet cocktail is known as the classic “sour” cocktail and it usually consists of Gin mixed with some lime juice, and simple syrup. The original Gimlet dates back to the 19th century when lime rations were mandated for British sailors to combat scurvy. These days, gin has always been the spirit of choice for a classic Gimlet, but that doesn’t leave the Vodka Gimlet without its unique charms. 

Why use Vodka?

Vodka’s neutral flavor profile acts as a blank canvas for the Gimlet template, allowing the lemon juice, fresh basil, and elderflower liqueur to take center stage.

How to Make a Vodka Gimlet Cocktail?

The “golden ratio” of most cocktails is 2:1:1—this means two parts of base liquor, one part sour and one part sweet. This shorthand is a reliable way to make a good drink with a variety of ingredients. And, as always, bartenders usually like to customize each drink according to the individual’s taste preferences.

Ingredients Needed for the Vodka Gimlet…

For this vodka gimlet cocktail, you will need the following ingredients:

1. VODKA – choose a good quality vodka, which is a clear distilled alcoholic beverage.

2. ELDERFLOWER LIGUEUR – is a sweet-flavored liqueur that gives this gimlet a lovely fragrant and refreshing flavor. The most popular brand of Elderflower Liqueur is St. Germain. It is a sublime liqueur created with wild, handpicked elderflowers and made in the traditional French style. 

3. BASIL – fresh basil also offers a delightful scent and garnish to this cocktail.

4. LEMONS – freshly squeezed lemon juice is not only very refreshing, but it adds a light lemony flavor that is simply delicious!

5. ICE CUBES – 1 large ice cube can be added to each glass, or fill the glasses with a lot of ice cubes. Both will keep this cocktail chilled, while you sip it slowly, and enjoy it.

6. LEMON SLICES – a slice added to each rim of the glass, as a garnish, will make it festive.

Here’s how to make a vodka gimlet cocktail (full recipe quantities in the recipe card):

Keep in mind, when making this gimlet cocktail, you can adjust the amount of each ingredient to your preference.

• Add vodka, lemon juice, and elderflower liqueur to a cocktail shaker and shake with ice cubes.
• Pour into a glass with ice, and add a fresh basil leaf.
• Garnish with a slice of lemon and serve.

Notes & Tips when making a vodka gimlet cocktail…

• Before you start, it’s a good idea to have some of your ingredients chilled and set them nearby.
• You can either stir it together or use a “bar shaker” and serve it over plenty of ice cubes or 1 large ice cube.
• Add a large basil leaf (or a few small ones), and a slice of lemon to the rim of each glass for the perfect touch and garnish.

What kind of glasses to use for a gimlet?

You can make a vodka gimlet in short cocktail glasses or heavy base rock glasses. These types of glasses are the most common glasses for the gimlet cocktail.

WATCH VIDEO: How to make Vodka Gimlet Cocktail? (1-minute!)

Additional Festive Cocktail Recipes…

• Christmas Mistletoe Cocktail (Hugo)
• Banana Cream Pie Cocktail
• Pomegranate Prosecco
• Best Homemade Limoncello
• 11 Wines to Pair with Food

If you make our scrumptious Vodka Gimket, let us know and leave a comment with a star rating!  We’d love to hear from you.  Sharing your insights and experiences helps everyone who reads them, and helps us too! 

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Have a great day! 🙂

Thanks for stopping by…

xo anna and liz