While we were in London a couple of years ago, I was reintroduced to a cocktail that I use to enjoy in my younger days, a Classic Gimlet. If my memory serves me correctly, the first few times I enjoyed a gimlet it was in a red plastic cup at a party most likely made with a bottle of $5.99 gin from the corner liquor store. Times have changed, and it was definitely more sophisticated, pulling up a chair at The Gilbert Scott and sipping on a cocktail served in a crystal cut cocktail glass with a thin swirl of cucumber as the garnish, not to mention the gin, an excellent quality one. This classic cocktail is bright and refreshing, not to mention so simple to make.
Recently we were invited to an event hosted by Virgin Atlantic at a local bar in San Francisco, Bourbon & Branch. Luckily for us, it was between business trips, and we were able to sneak into the city to attend this event. Virgin Atlantic is our favorite overseas airlines, and has become our go-to for flying across the pond so we could not wait to see what they were up too! Upon arriving at Bourbon & Branch, I was handed one of my favorite classic cocktails and once again I was reminded of how much I enjoy a good gimlet.
After enjoying nibbles and a cocktail (or two), we were introduced to the new partnership between the airline and Whitechapel a local restaurant in the Bay Area. Whitechapel features the largest selection of gin in North America, and was created by Alex Smith and Martin Gate, both gentlemen have outstanding backgrounds in the world of cocktails; Alex is even behind one of our favorite East Bay places, The Honor Bar. Anyhow, some of the Whitechapel recipes will be featured on the San Francisco Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse menu, which we couldn’t be more excited about. We have not had a chance to enjoy the new San Francisco Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, but it looks so chic, sexy and elegant; kind of screams cocktail time! Guess we will be checking in earlier for those international flights now that we know we can enjoy classic gimlets as well as exceptional nibbles in the Clubhouse pre-flight!
I didn’t want you to go thirty this summer so I am sharing our recipe for a Classic Gimlet. I have a feeling it will become our go-to summer cocktail and hope you enjoy too.
Recipe: Classic Gimlet
Ingredients:
2 ounces good gin – we like Hendricks or St. George
1-ounce fresh lime juice
3/4 ounces simple syrup
ice
thinly sliced cucumber, for garnish
lime slice, for garnish
How To:
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, lime juice, and simple syrup.
Stir virtuously with a cocktail spoon until very cold.
Pour through a strainer into a cocktail glass.
Garnish with cucumber slice and lime slice.
Serve.
Sip.