Is that too dramatic a name for this? Perhaps. But I think a deep exploration of my favorite cocktail is long overdue. The Gimlet is an icon of classic cocktail culture, and what’s amazed me in my drinking life is just how varied this drink can be. It has its supposed origins (it’s always funny to me how so much of drinking history is supposed), along with its cousins the Daquiri and Gin and Tonic, as a medicinal beverage for the ever-growing, and ever-plagued, British Empire. Lime juice and liquor, the ultimate scurvy protector, and in its original form the Gimlet was probably nothing more than that.
I’ve had Gimlets that were just lime juice and a spirit, and being honest they are usually not that fantastic. They miss sweetness, and in some of the oldest incarnations of the drink that sweetness is by Rose’s Sweetened Lime Juice. Later versions would switch to simple syrup and fresh lime juice. These are the versions I will tackle in this exploration, including the use of two different simple syrups, one with plain white sugar and one with Demerara sugar, each with fresh lime juice, and then also Rose’s.
Another important factor to consider is the spirit. I’ve carefully avoided mention of gin in the above discussion because, as with so many other previously gin-centric drinks, vodka has snuck its way into Gimlets, too. Within gin itself there is a wide range of styles, and traditionally Plymouth Gin would have been the standard in a Gimlet. Seeing as Plymouth Gin is no longer an origin-protected product and now a brand, there’s flexibility here. The more important distinction between gins would be the older, drier, juniper-forward styles and the more modern, varied botanical profile gins. Therefore, we need to examine two gin-based Gimlets, and then a vodka Gimlet as well.
The final variable factor in Gimlets is how they are served: up or on the rocks, and of course, shaken or stirred. Seeing as we are trying to establish a precedent for taste, and the Gimlet is a spirit-forward drink, I will stir these drinks for 30 seconds, and then serve them both up and on the rocks to see how these preparations change the drink.
So now we have our challenge: in total a grand tasting of eighteen Gimlets, with three different base spirits, three different sweetener and lime combinations, and two different styles of preparation. I will try to keep the ratios the same for all of the different preparations, meaning equal parts gin and mixer. For
Our ratings will be on a 15-point scale: 5 points each for nose, palate, and overall impression.
Seeing as the overwhelming amount of consumption would warn against trying to accomplish this all in one week, I’m doing to divide it into three. This first week of the Gimlet Battle Royale shall feature Tanqueray Gin across the different preparations and combinations.
Why Tanqueray? It’s a fabulous, if standard, old-school style gin. Juniper centric, bone dry, freshly aromatic, and perhaps the first gin most people discover. If we’re going classic here, I can’t think of a better gin to begin these cocktails. Keep reading to discover the results of the Gin Battle Royale, Week 1!!
Tanqueray Gin Gimlet (2oz), Rose’s Lime Juice (2oz), Stirred, Up: What strikes you first about this combination, both on the rocks and up, is the color. It’s incredibly pale, almost completely clear, with a slight green tinge. The nose served up is mild, with a very strong note of the sweet lime juice, 3/5. The palate is another story; absolutely overpowering, cloying sweet lime that obscures the gin, only just ending with a touch of something refreshing, 1/5. It’s serviceable, if that, and my overall impression is a 2/5. Final Score: 6/15.
Tanqueray Gin (2oz), Rose’s Lime Juice (2oz), Stirred, On the Rocks: The same pale color. The nose on this one is more muted, but the gin does show more than served up, 2/5. The gin is much more apparent on the palate, and some of the cloying taste is tempered by dilution and a stronger chill, 3/5. Is it bad if this reminds me of almost every so-so airport bar Gimlet? That’s the vibe I get, 3/5. Final Score: 8/15.
Tanqueray Gin (2oz), Simple Syrup (1oz) and Fresh Lime Juice(1oz), Stirred, Up: The color of this at least seems a bit better, a pleasant opaqueness. The nose is wonderful, showcasing the gin and adding a pleasant crisp aroma of lime, 4/5. On the palate, however, the gin is obscured, but with a good fresh tartness with the fresh lime, 2/5. Overall a spike in freshness and tartness, but hides the gin a bit too much, 3/5. Final Score: 9/15.
Tanqueray Gin (2oz), Simple Syrup (1oz) and Fresh Lime Juice (1oz), Stirred, On the Rocks: Again, a lovely color. But no nose to speak of beyond a mild whiff of lime, 1/5. The palate is spot on, a perfect balance of gin, sweet, and tart, 5/5. This is a refreshing and inviting sipper, and a solid Gimlet. Final Score: 11/15.
Tanqueray Gin (2oz), Demerara Simple Syrup (1oz) and Fresh Lime Juice (1oz), Stirred, Up: Now, the darker brown sugar does give both of these incarnations a big of an odd color, almost a golden brown. But this cocktail shines on the nose, with the lime and gin complementing each other perfectly, 5/5. The palate is a similar story, this drink is balanced with an added richness from the Demerara syrup and pleasant tart edge from the lime marrying into the gin, 5/5. Altogether a lovely, refreshing Gimlet, albeit with a weird color, 4/5. Final Score: 14/15.
Tanqueray Gin (2oz), Demerara Simple Syrup (1oz) and Fresh Lime Juice (1oz), Stirred, On the Rocks: The same problems with color. Although, this cocktail seems to fall apart on the rocks. Muted nose, faint lime aroma, 2/5. The sugar wasn’t strong enough to handle the dilution and the fresh lime’s flavor became overwhelming and the drink loses focus, 2/5. Overall an awkward, uneasy drink, 2/5. Final Score: 6/15.
I have consumed a lot of gin, but I think the results are clear.
In this Tanqueray series we saw, in general, a trend towards these drinks on the rocks, until the introduction of Demerara syrup. The top three winners of the tasting were actually a diverse set. If you’ve the time and resources, I highly recommend trying the Demerara stirred and up, 14/15. This is the drink featured in this blog’s photo. For more day to day drinking, the regular simple syrup and lime juice on the rocks, 11/15, would be a fantastic go-to, or up, which scored a 9/15.
Next week we will explore using a different style of gin, and see how that changes the Gimlet. For now, cheers, and remember: Drink what you like, but taste everything!