Keto Vodka Gimlet

A classic gimlet is made with either vodka or gin. This recipe here is made with vodka, but you can easily substitute in your favorite clear spirit. You might notice that a gimlet shares a lot of qualities with a martini, but there is one citrus twist. Gimlets are made with a sweetened lime juice that makes up for most of the flavor in this cocktail. At your discretion, you may also adjust how much alcohol you use if you find 2 oz of vodka to be too strong. Most simple syrups used in cocktails are made with equal parts of water and white sugar. To combat the sugar rush, a few drops of liquid stevia make up for the sugar we are omitting in this Keto cocktail. You can easily stir in more lime juice or liquid stevia at your discretion to adjust the drink to your taste.

How was the gimlet invented?

Like many simple, classic recipes, the gimlet was invented initially out of necessity. In the late 1800s, sailors worked through illness with alcohol and made up for Vitamin C deficiencies with citrus fruits. By combining the two together, sailors could drink large amounts of alcohol and stomach doses of lime juice. The name ‘Gimlet’ is believed to derive from either a famous doctor at the time or the tool sailors used to open spirit barrels. As the recipe crept its way into popularity on land, bartenders added sugar and sweetened lime juice to make the cocktail more palatable. What has stood the test of time of the gimlet is it’s the ratio of alcohol to lime juice to sweetener. To put it simply, you’ll only need one drink to feel the effects!

Why can’t you use store-bought lime simple syrup?

It has been mentioned earlier that classic gimlet cocktails use a heavily-sweetened lime juice made with equal parts water and white sugar. All simple syrup is made this way, and it’s how you get a thickened liquid that efficiently flavors a bitter drink with a lot of alcohol. On the Keto diet, you cannot make a simple syrup with the same textural effects using stevia or artificial sweeteners since artificial sweeteners do not have the same chemical properties as white sugar and are usually significantly sweeter. Liquid stevia is your best friend if you want to make Keto cocktails. There’s no need to stand over your stove to make homemade simple syrup. Simply mix liquid stevia into an amount of water that reflects how much simple syrup you would use in a standard cocktail. Pour this straight into your cocktail shaker to sweeten your drink. For this recipe, you can make up for any lacking flavor with fresh lime juice.

Do you need a cocktail shaker to prepare this cocktail?

If you do not have a cocktail shaker, you can mix this drink by pouring it between two glasses until frothy.

Jessica L.