Vodka Gimlet

Three simple ingredients make this refreshingly smooth vodka gimlet cocktail recipe – simple syrup, fresh lime juice, and vodka. Garnish with fresh mint or fresh herbs for a delicious classic cocktail.

For more spirit-forward cocktails, give this French Gimlet and Lavender and Gin Cocktail a try too!

Slightly different from your classic gin gimlet, this vodka version is just as delicious! While a traditional gimlet is full of peppery floral notes from the gin, this vodka drink recipe is a bit more mellow and has touch of sweetness that really makes this such a fun drink to make and enjoy.

What is a vodka gimlet?

A vodka gimlet is a rendition of a classic gimlet where you swap out gin for vodka. This drink dates back to the 18th century where British sailors on navy ships would drink lime juice to prevent scurvy. However, the sailors found it far more enjoyable to drink with the addition of vodka.

The three-ingredient vodka gimlet didn’t become popular until the vodka boom of the 1970s where the drink went from something that was medicinal to a commonly enjoyed drink that was ordered at a bar.

I guess you can enjoy a healthy dose of vitamin c while still enjoying a refreshing cocktail – sounds like a win-win situation to me!

Ingredients

So what’s in it? Here’s what you’ll need:

• Vodka – you’ll want a smooth vodka for this drink, preferably a distilled vodka. There’s not much else in this cocktail to hide the flavor, so make sure you get a quality vodka that’s high quality. Some of my go-to vodka brands are grey goose and tito’s vodka.
• Lime juice – I am partial to fresh-squeezed lime juice! My secret to really making this classic vodka gimlet recipe pop is using both lime zest and lime juice to pack this drink with citrus flavors. However, if you only have bottled lime juice, that works too.
• Simple syrup – to sweeten things up a bit.

I also recommend using a cocktail shaker with a strainer to mix everything up! Serve in your favorite cocktail glass and garnish with a lime wheel.

Pro Tips

• Use fresh ingredients! Specifically the limes – bottle lime juice just doesn’t compare to freshly squeezed lime juice.
• Serve with ice-cold vodka. If you really want the ultimate vodka gimlet, serving ice cold make this already delicious shaken cocktail even better.
• Be sure to use a high quality vodka. Since this drink only consists of three ingredients, you really want a good vodka that’s smooth and distilled a few times for a nice crisp cocktail.
• No simple syrup? You can use agave, honey, or maple syrup as alternative in the exact amounts listed in the recipe card.

How to make a Vodka Gimlet

• Add vodka, lime juice, and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds, until the shaker turns cold.
• Strain drink into a cocktail or coupe glass and garnish with a little lime zest, mint, or a freshly cut lime wheel.

Recipe FAQs