The East Indian Gin Gimlet Recipe
A gin cocktail for the winter months
We’re always looking for creative ways to use warming spices like ginger in our cooking. So when the makers of Jaisalmer Gin offered us this ginger and rosemary-infused twist on a gin gimlet recipe, we knew immediately that we had to share this cocktail recipe.
Looking for great winter cocktails? Don’t miss this Apple Pie Martini recipe
The history of this gin lime drink
A refreshing gimlet is one of the best easy gin cocktail recipes. It’s not surprising that the gimlet cocktail has been around for centuries.
According to The Gin Foundry, the Gimlet’s not-so-glamorous origins date back to the 19th Century. The gin and lime cocktail was drunk by sailors to ward off scurvy. Fortunately, the drink evolved over the centuries into something refreshing and celebratory. And to mixologists who embrace classic cocktails, the gimlet drink is also the base for creativity.
Love a creative cocktail? Check out all of our drink recipes.
What is a gimlet?
As I alluded, a gin gimlet cocktail recipe traditionally includes a balance of fresh lime juice and gin. At some point, the drink evolved to include some kind of sweetener. A more modern variation trades out the classic gimlet recipe gin for vodka to make a vodka gimlet. And if you switch the liquor to rum, you’re looking at a basic daiquiri, like one of my favorite daiquiri recipes.
A quick online search will give you dozens of variations on a basic gimlet drink recipe. A simple, lime and gin base welcomes flavoring agents from floral St. Germain elderflower liqueur to fresh and bitter cucumber. Here, Jaisalmer takes this summer drink into the colder seasons by combining fresh lime with body temperature-warming ginger and the fall-like flavor of rosemary.
How to make a gimlet
A gin gimlet is an easy cocktail to make. However, this winter version of the gin cocktail has a few added ingredients to change up the flavor–and the drink’s effect.
If you’re making this cocktail as part of a romantic evening, and you probably are if you’re a regular on our site, you’ll be pleased to know that this East Indian cocktail recipe infuses a basic lime gimlet with several aphrodisiac ingredients.
Looking for Sexy Cocktails? Don’t miss The Aphrodisiac, a pomegranate martini.
As I mentioned in the introduction, this gin gimlet recipe uses ginger, which happens to be one of my favorite culinary aphrodisiacs. And that’s due largely to ginger’s ability to produce body heat, make the tongue tingle and the cheeks flush. It’s an outstanding ingredient to add to fall and winter recipes because it naturally raises body temperature.
But did you know that rosemary is also an aphrodisiac? (You can learn more about its effects in my dictionary of aphrodisiac foods.) And I would be remiss if I didn’t add that gin, depending on the blend of botanicals, can also be a potent aphrodisiac.
Best gin for gimlet
As I mentioned, this recipe was created by the mixologists at Jaisalmer, a premium, Indian spirits company using Indian ingredients in their distillation. Their gin includes a blend of licorice, coriander, pepper, green tea and juniper. Of course, you can always make this gimlet using your favorite gin. But if you want to guarantee an aphrodisiac experience, Jaisalmer might be the way to go!
Advance prep
Please note that this cocktail does require a little advanced preparation. You’ll need to make the ginger syrup far enough in advance that it has a chance to chill before you mix your drink.
East Indian Gimlet
Ingredients
For the ginger syrup
- 1/4 cup chopped peeled ginger
- 3/4 cup sugar
For the cocktail
- 1 1/2 oz Jaisalmer Gin
- 1 1/2 oz lime juice
- 1/4 oz ginger simple syrup (instructions below)
- 1/4 oz St. Germain
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary for garnish
Instructions
For the Ginger Simple Syrup
- Bring sugar, ginger, and ¾ cup water to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring to dissolve sugar.
- Remove from heat and let sit 20 minutes.
- Strain into a jar, cover, and chill.
For the cocktail
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour in the gin, lime juice, ginger syrup and St. Germain.
- Shake until well chilled.
- Strain into cocktail glass. Garnish with fresh rosemary.
Amy is considered a leading authority on aphrodisiacs. Her work in aphrodisiacs is quoted in publications including National Geographic, The New York Times, Epicurious, Wine Enthusiast, Health and Playboy magazines. She speaks internationally on aphrodisiac foods and has brought her knowledge of aphrodisiac history and science to national television shows including The Today Show and CBS Early Show. She is a frequent guest on relationship and lifestyle radio and podcast shows and has been interviewed by BBC and NPR radio, Cosmopolitan radio and popular podcasts including My Dad Wrote a Porno.
Amy is also a freelance food, wine and health researcher and writer as well as a wine competition judge. Her work has appeared in publications ranging from Variety to The Daily Meal. She is an MSN content provider. And she is also a former wine editor for Gayot.com and wine & spirits editor of Las Vegas magazine.
Fun fact: Amy was the creator of the first ever comprehensive food and wine apps, Amy Reiley's Pocket Gourmet and Amy Reiley's Pocket Vineyard for Palm.
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We’re so sorry. In the process of updating we accidentally deleted the St. Germain in the instructions. It’s back in the recipe, to be added with the gin. We hope you enjoy.
When do you add the st germain?