The BEST French Gimlet
Get ready for happy hour with this chic 3-ingredient cocktail. A classic French Gimlet combines citrus and elderflower with gin to create an elegant and refreshing flavor. This sweet, tart, and boozy elderflower gin cocktail will elevate any occasion.
If you love gin and elderflower cocktails, try my fresh and fruity Raspberry Lemon Elderflower Gin Cocktail for your next happy hour!
Ingredients Needed for French Gimlet:
Gin, elderflower, and citrus combine to make an herbaceous, floral and tart cocktail. It’s surprising to think this sophisticated and complex flavored beverage only has 3 ingredients!
- Gin – The better the gin, the better the drink. Use a high quality gin for this gin gimlet cocktail. I suggest using Beefeater or Tanqueray.
- Elderflower liqueur – The taste of elderflower liqueur is floral and fresh. St. Germain is one of the most famous elderflower liqueurs. It’s on the pricier side, so I usually use an off brand, such as Drillaud elderflower liqueur.
- Lime juice – Fresh squeezed limes are best to use in this French gimlet recipe.
How to Make a French Gimlet
Making a French Gimlet cocktail is as simple as the ingredients in this recipe. Gin and St. Germain are a classic combination and make perfect sense in this tart and sweet cocktail recipe.
First, chill your glass in the freezer for a few minutes while mixing this drink. Chilling the glass can make the flavors of the drink more crisp. Next, fill a cocktail shaker with ice, gin, elderflower liqueur, and fresh lime juice. Fresh lime juice is best.
Shake well for about 15 seconds, until cold. Finally, strain the drink into a cocktail glass. Typically, this cocktail is served in a coupe glass. The best gimlet garnish is a wedge of lime on the rim of the glass.
Serve this French Gimlet for happy hour or fancy dinner at home. Pro Tip: Make a big batch and pre-mix this elderflower gimlet in a large glass jug before a party. Simply stir and pour when your guests ask for more.
FAQs
A gimlet is a classic cocktail that originated in the 1920s. A description of the drink from back then describes it as: “gin, and a spot of lime”. A gimlet is typically a gin cocktail, but it can be made with vodka as well. To make a vodka gimlet simply replace the gin with vodka.
A French Gimlet is a gin gimlet with the addition of elderflower liqueur.
The taste of gin can vary from one brand to another, but most people say it has a “pine” or “Christmas tree” flavor. Herbs, such as juniper berries and coriander, along with citrus are used to make gin giving it a botanic flavor. High quality, good gin is able to balance all the unique ingredients that go into making this spirit, so buy the “good stuff”.
I suggest using a high quality gin, such as Beefeater or Tanqueray, since it’s the main ingredient of this cocktail recipe.
More Cocktail Recipes to Try:
- Chocolate Martini with Godiva
- Cold Brew Coffee Martini with Baileys
- Frozen Minute Maid Limeade Margarita
- Sparkling Cranberry Gin Cocktail
French Gimlet
Equipment
- Cocktail Shaker
- jigger
Ingredients
- 2 ounces Gin
- 1.5 ounces St. Germain elderflower liqueur
- 0.5 ounce fresh lime juice
- ice cubes
Instructions
- Fill a cocktail shaker with all ingredients.
- Shake for 15 seconds, until cold.
- Strain into a cocktail glass and serve with a garnish of lime wedge.
Notes
- This cocktail is typically served in a coupe glass.
- You can substitute vodka for gin.
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