Perfect Vodka Gimlet

For this vodka gimlet recipe, we use vodka instead of the classic gin and make our own lime cordial, which tastes way better than store-bought.

We love a good gimlet, and lately, we’ve been swapping the usual gin for vodka. But what really makes it special is our homemade lime cordial.

No matter if we’re using gin or vodka, homemade lime cordial is always our go-to. It makes the gimlet taste so much brighter and fresher than anything from the store. If you’re looking for more vodka cocktails, check out our lemon drop martini or cosmopolitan cocktail!

Key Ingredients

• Vodka: There’s enough vodka in this cocktail that you’ll taste it, so use what you love. We prefer higher-quality vodka like Stoli, Ketel One, or Grey Goose. For a classic gimlet, use gin.
• Lime Cordial: You can buy it (Rose’s is a good option), but we love making our own by simmering sugar with water and lime zest. When the sugar dissolves, you stir in fresh lime juice. It’s sweeter than lime juice but more tart than plain simple syrup.

Find the full recipe with measurements below.

How to Make the Best Gimlet

Tip 1: Make it in a cocktail shaker. I like my gimlets the same way I like my martinis, cold! So, add the ingredients to your cocktail shaker, add some ice, and give it a really good shake. As you shake, small ice pieces chip off, slightly diluting the drink. This is intentional to help balance all of the flavors.

Tip 2: Make homemade lime cordial. This is optional, but highly recommended. You can use it to make a gimlet, or simply add to sparkling water. Here’s how to do it:

1. Clean your limes: We start with a few limes. Since we use the zest and juice, we like to clean them before using them. It may seem a little odd, but limes are usually coated with some sort of wax, and since we don’t really want any wax in our cocktail, it’s best to remove it. To remove the waxy layer from limes (or any citrus), just dunk them into boiling water for a few seconds, then wipe them clean with a dish towel.
2. Zest your limes: Now that we’re working with squeaky-clean limes, we move on to making the lime syrup. Use a microplane or fine zester to remove the outer layer of the rind from one of the limes (you are only looking for the green part, not the white part, which can be bitter).
3. Make the syrup: Add the lime zest to a pan with equal parts sugar and water, then bring everything to a simmer. As the water simmers, the sugar will dissolve, and the oils and flavor of the lime zest will seep out, making a lime-flavored simple syrup. Similar to our homemade simple syrup.
4. Strain and add lime juice: Let the syrup cool, strain it, add some fresh lime juice, and you’re left with a sweetened, fresh lime cordial that’s ready to be made into a gimlet.

More of Our Favorite Cocktail Recipes

• Southside Cocktail (made with gin, mint, and citrus)
• Tom Collins
• Mint Julep
• Gin Fizz