Are you concerned about nutrition? Cos this cocktail was designed as a health supplement. Yes really! Back in day when navy sailors were at sea for endless months with no fresh food, they had a serious problem with scurvy, a vitamin C deficiency. To combat scurvy they were given limes. These ships were also carrying navy strength gin*. Mix together your daily ration of lime juice, your daily ration of gin, add a little sugar and you’ve got yourself and Gimlet and a scurvy-free voyage.
There are two suggestions as to why it’s called a Gimlet. One is that it my have been prescribed by British Royal Navy Surgeon Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Gimlette. Or it may have been named after a device for boring holes, a gimlet, as it had a gimlet like effect on the drinkers brain.
GIMLET
60mL gin (Plymouth Navy Strength if you’re being traditional)
15mL fresh lime juice
15mL sugar syrup
Combine with ice in a cocktail shaker, shake vigorously and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with lime peel. Or if you’re being traditional, mix it up in whatever ship-board empty vessel you can find and don’t pansy about with a garnish.
*Navy Strength gin is over 57% ABV which apparently is the proof that will not ruin gunpowder if it is accidentally spilt on it.