The Gimlet

“that which I have seene most fruitful is sower [sour] oranges and lemons . . . I wish that some learned man would write of it [scurvy], for it is the plague of the sea, and the spoyle of mariners.”
— Sir Richard Hawkins, 1590

A gimlet is a small hand drill, meant (back when things were still sealed in barrels) to drill a hole in a barrel and let whatever was put inside out. A gimlet pierces things, and so people with a sharp gaze were “gimlet-eyed”. A Gimlet also pierces. Made from gin and lime, it’s meant to be a short, sharp drink tossed down the hatch, but modern, craft oriented bartenders take one look at the neon-green, corn syrup filled Rose’s lime juice that’s supposed to go into the drink and think about either making their own lime cordial or simply substituting fresh lime juice and sugar. And I don’t think they’re wrong.

Heart of Darkness

1 oz Virgin Islands Rum, Cruzan Blackstrap
3⁄4 oz Lime juice
2 oz Chinotto, San Pellegrino
1 spg Mint (as garnish)
Instructions

Shake, strain into a mason jar over fresh ice, top with chinotto, garnish with mint and two blackberries.

Notes

The recipe is in large scale punch format; I scaled it down to single serving and adjusted the instructions accordingly.

YieldsDrink
Year
2012
Authenticity
Authentic recipe
Creator
David Kwiatkowski, Sugar House, Detroit, MI.
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
5 stars
(4 ratings)
From other users
  • A great cocktail and favorite with my guests. I like to use Bacardi 8 Ãnos Rum. — ★★★★★
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  • Otto's Kin — Dark rum, Campari, Chinotto, Lime juice, Orange juice
  • Elder Collins — Gin, Bitter lemon soda, Lemon juice, Elderflower cordial, Mint, Cucumber
  • Mezzo-Americano — Aperol, Gin, Chinotto, Lime juice, Orange
  • Los Gintonic — Gin, Dry vermouth, Bitter lemon soda, Lemon peel
  • Half a Bee — Herbal liqueur, Amaro Sibilla, Bitter lemon soda
René commented on 7/06/2017:

A great cocktail and favorite with my guests. I use Bacardi 8 Ãnos Rum.


Ume Klug

1 1⁄2 oz Gin, City of London (Tanqueray/Plymouth work too)
3⁄4 oz Simple syrup (Plum-ginger - see note)
1 oz Junmai Sake
3⁄4 oz Lemon juice
1 sli Plum (Coin sized muddling slice)
Instructions

Build in Shaker, cut coin of plum flesh and squeeze in to mix. Add 5 large cubes and shake well. Serve up. Double Strain if Desired.

Notes

To make Syrup, Mash 2 Quarts of Plums into 3 Quarts of sugar. Add 8-10 thin slices of ginger root, and 3 Quarts of Water. Bring to a boil then simmer for 45 min. Cool and strain.

History

Made impromptu at Michael McAvenas house with homemade sake in 2009, finally finding its way onto the Blackbird Menu in 2013.

YieldsDrink
Year
2009
Authenticity
Your original creation
Creator
Kyle Davidson, Blackbird, Chicago
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
5 stars
(2 ratings)
From other users
  • Try
Similar cocktails

Curated slightly - just to clean up syrup and direct attention to the (thoughtfully) provided recipe.


Sommer in the City

3⁄4 sh Fernet Branca
1⁄4 sh Coffee liqueur
Instructions

Build, shoot. Alternatively, stir and sip.

History

Sam Ross and the boys at Attaboy made this for actor Rich Sommer (Mad Men's Harry Crane), a regular this summer.

YieldsDrink
Year
2013
Authenticity
Authentic recipe
Creator
Sam Ross, Attaboy, NYC.
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
4 stars
(4 ratings)
From other users
  • Always hits the spot.
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St. James's Flip

1 1⁄2 oz Irish whiskey
1 oz Coffee (espresso or cold brew)
1⁄2 oz Cinnamon syrup
1⁄2 oz Fernet Branca
2 ds Bitters, Miracle Mile Chocolate Chili
2 oz Stout, Guinness stout (or more)
1 pn Cocoa powder (as garnish)
Instructions

Dry shake, shake, strain into a latte glass, top with Guinness, dust with chocolate powder or nutmeg.

YieldsDrink
Authenticity
Authentic recipe
Creator
Gabriella Mlynarczyk, ink, LA.
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
4 stars
(2 ratings)
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  • Death by Chocolate — Islands Scotch, Stout, Cynar 70, Amaro Meletti, Crème de Cacao, Bitters, Egg white
  • Spanish Coffee Stout — Stout, Añejo rum, Demerara Rum, Orange liqueur, Coffee liqueur, Pedro Ximénez Sherry, Licor 43, Whipped cream, Coffee
  • Smoke 'n Choke — Cynar, Stout, Scotch, Chocolate bitters, Whole egg, Brown sugar coffee syrup

The Nighthawk #3

2 oz Rye
3⁄4 oz Dry vermouth, Dolin
1⁄2 oz CioCiaro
1⁄2 oz Cynar
3 dr Bitters, Miracle Mile Chocolate Chili
1 twst Orange peel
Instructions

Stir, strain, coupe, twist, garnish.

YieldsDrink
Authenticity
Authentic recipe
Creator
Gabriella Mlynarczyk, ink, LA.
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
4 stars
(5 ratings)
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That's So Meta

1 1⁄3 oz Becherovka (40 ml)
2⁄3 oz Bärenjäger (20 ml)
1⁄3 oz Rye (10 ml)
1⁄8 t Citric acid (scant)
2 twst Lemon peel
Instructions

"Dry stir" to dissolve citric acid, stir, strain, rock(s). Express, rim & drop in both peels.

History

Blurring the lines between Old Fashioned & Sour by "deconstructing" one of my favorite drinks, Eastern Standard's Metamorphosis (with a nod to Stew Ellington's B&B Také and B&B&B).

YieldsDrink
Authenticity
Your original creation
Creator
Christopher Bevins
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
4 stars
(1 rating)
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Débarquement

2 oz Gin, Aviation
1 oz Peach liqueur, Edmond Briottet
1⁄2 oz Lemon juice
1 twst Lemon peel
Instructions

Shake, strain, up and garnish

History

Crème de Pêche and St. Germain meld well, and I knew I wanted to use them in a gin based cocktail--Aviation doesn't "gin-out" the subtler flavors in the drink but still provides interesting Indian sarsaparilla and green cardamom notes

Picture of Débarquement
2011 Kindred Cocktails
YieldsDrink
Year
2013
Authenticity
Your original creation
Creator
Jason Westplate
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
3.5 stars
(7 ratings)
From other users
  • Used my still-aging homemade peach liqueur on 7/28/20. Might need a bit simple or more of the liqueur.
  • Too sweet for my taste
  • Gin- sweet, sour
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I found this to be… inoffensive. It wasn’t bad but it’s not anything I would be clamoring to make again.


Long Faced Dove

1 1⁄2 oz Blanco tequila
1⁄2 oz Campari
3⁄4 oz Grapefruit juice (pink)
3⁄4 oz Lime juice
1⁄3 oz Simple syrup
1⁄2 oz Ginger beer
1 sli Lime (as garnish)
Instructions

Combine tequila, Campari, grapefruit juice, lime juice, and simple syrup in lowball glass. Add ice and stir, then top with ginger beer and stir again. Garnish with lime wheel.

Notes

This recipe is scaled down from the original 6 servings; scales up easily for a crowd.

YieldsDrink
Year
2013
Authenticity
Authentic recipe
Creator
Adapted from Paul McGee, RPM Italian, Chicago by Maggie Hoffman
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
4.5 stars
(14 ratings)
From other users
  • A more interesting, yummy drink for the margarita lover. A couple drops of saline push it further in that direction if wanted. — ★★★★★
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  • The Escapology — Blanco tequila, Elderflower liqueur, Lime juice, Bitter lemon soda, Simple syrup, Cucumber
  • Tequila Sunrise (Shelter) — Blanco tequila, Falernum, Campari, Orange juice, Lemon juice, Soda water
  • Spiced Pimm's Cup — Pimm's No. 1 Cup, Amaro Nonino, Lemon juice, Simple syrup, Ginger beer
  • Leiya Unchained — Bison grass vodka, Mezcal, Campari, Lemon juice, Yuzu syrup, Egg white

Curated this - changed "tequila" to "Blanco tequila" as per link. added date attribution and changed type to authentic recipe. Thanks, Zachary


Swiss Fizz

1 1⁄2 oz Absinthe
3⁄8 oz Lemon juice
3⁄8 oz Lime juice
3⁄4 oz Orgeat
1 oz Cream
1⁄2 oz Egg white
Instructions

Dry shake, long shake, double strain into Collins over soda and ice shard, top with more drops of orange flower water.

YieldsDrink
Year
2013
Authenticity
Your original creation
Creator
Rafa García Febles, NYC.
Curator rating
Not yet rated
Average rating
4 stars
(3 ratings)
From other users
  • A Ramos gin fizz substituting absinthe for gin. I would probably use less orgeat next time.
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