I don’t usually approve of messing with the venerable classics – and the Gimlet is certainly one of those – but occasionally I run up on something that’s worth a try. My son and daughter-in-law alerted me to this one, which had come to them via Ina Garten.
It calls for gin, lime, and simple syrup – the usual Gimlet ingredients – and adds the lush color, and dark, fruity flavor of pomegranate juice.
My kids played with the proportions to make it less sweet – a good call – and I played with them some more to increase the gin-based tang, and viola, David’s Holiday Gimlet.
It’s like a regular Gimlet, but has more heft. Deeper, more complicated flavor. Perfect for cold weather and festive occasions like ringing in a new – and long-awaited – year. And it’s not as strong as some cocktails, so you can have more than one without spoiling your evening.
Happy New Year to us all!
Holiday Gimlet
2 ounces gin
1 ounce fresh lime juice
1 ounce pomegranate juice
.5 ounce simple syrup (or less to make it tangier)
Combine and shake to get freezing cold and serve straight up. If you want to crank up the party vibe, garnish with a lime slice.
