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This French gimlet recipe uses just three ingredients for a chic cocktail that takes only 5 minutes to shake up! Gin, St-Germain elderflower liqueur, and fresh lime juice make a fun twist on the classic gimlet.
The French gimlet is a sophisticated cocktail that’s refreshing and perfectly tart. Just three ingredients go into this chic drink, and it’s a fun way to mix up cocktail night.
This has become my favorite gimlet variation because of the warm floral flavor of the elderflower liqueur. If you’ve never had St-Germain, this is a great drink to start with. Here’s how to make it!
5 Star Reader Reviews
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Very nice cocktail – becoming one of my favorites: not too sweet, not bitter, nice herbal notes and lime is certainly refreshing.” -Igor
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “I make this drink regularly. It’s perfect and delicious!” -Dominique
Ingredients for a French Gimlet
A French gimlet is a gin gimlet made with elderflower liqueur. The gimlet is a classic cocktail made of 2 parts gin and 1 part lime juice, often balanced with a little simple syrup. A true 1920s cocktail, it can be made with gin or vodka. Add a bit of elderflower liqueur to make it French, and ditch the simple syrup. Here’s what’s in a French gimlet:
- Gin
- Lime juice
- St-Germain (elderflower liqueur)
Love French-style drinks? Try the French 75, a gin cocktail that swaps in lemon for lime and adds champagne. It’s a favorite bubbly cocktail of mine.
The Best Gin To Use
The French gimlet only has 3 ingredients, so quality is key. The better the gin, the better the drink. Don’t buy the cheapest gin on the shelf. Try to invest in a mid-price range gin. The drink will only taste as good as the gin you invest in!
Tips for the Perfect French Gimlet
- Use fresh lime juice. Fresh citrus gives you brightness, acidity, and a clean flavor that bottled juice can’t match. Always use fresh citrus!
- Shake for a full 15 seconds. A properly shaken cocktail should be ice-cold with a touch of dilution: the added water actually rounds out the flavors.
- Chill your glass. Pop your glass in the freezer for a few minutes before you shake. A cold glass keeps the drink colder and honestly: is just more fun!
All About St-Germain
Do you have a bottle of St-Germain in your cabinet? It is absolutely worth snagging for this French gimlet. The flavor is irresistible! Here are a few fun facts about St-Germain:
- St-Germain is a liqueur made with elderflowers, the small white flowers of an elderberry plant. This flavor is warm and floral.
- It was invented in 2007. Surprising, right? Doesn’t it look like it has hundreds of years of history?
- How do you say St-Germain? Don’t say “Saint.” It’s actually pronounced “Sahn-jer-MAHN.” However you want to say it to not sound pretentious with your friends, go for it!
Gimlet Variations Worth Trying
There are a few different ways to make a gimlet! Here are a few more options:
- Gin Gimlet: This is the classic! It’s bright and botanical from the gin.
- Vodka Gimlet: This one has a more subtle flavor than the gin gimlet. It’s smooth and tangy, a nice variation on the standard.
- Basil Gimlet: This is a gin gimlet with fresh basil! This version features lime juice, gin, and muddled basil, which gives it a fresh peppery essence.
When to serve a French gimlet
The French gimlet is a fancy and sophisticated gin cocktail. It’s perfect for sipping as a:
- Dinner party cocktail hour
- Happy hour with friends
- A solo Friday evening wind-down
- Girls’ night or date night
It also pairs well with lighter bites: think cheese boards, smoked salmon appetizers, shrimp cocktail, or anything citrus-forward.
French Gimlet
This French gimlet recipe uses just three ingredients for a chic cocktail that takes only 5 minutes to shake up! Gin, St-Germain elderflower liqueur, and fresh lime juice make a fun twist on the classic gimlet.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
- Category: Cocktail
- Method: Shaken
- Cuisine: Cocktails
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 2 ounces (4 tablespoons) gin
- 1 ½ ounces (3 tablespoons) St-Germain
- ½ ounce (1 tablespoon) lime juice
- For the garnish: lime wedge
Instructions
- Add gin, lime juice, and St-Germain to a cocktail shaker.
- Fill with a handful of ice and shake until cold.
- Strain into glass.
- Garnish with a lime wedge and serve.
Wow! Added a bit of muddled cucumber and mint. Wow!
Very nice cocktail – becoming one of my favorites: not too sweet, not bitter, nice herbal notes and lime is certainly refreshing.
Also – good job Sonja and Alex: whatever ingredients from my bar I Google – somehow I always end up on your site. Whatever you do to impact the search algorithm – you seem to be doing it right.
So glad you enjoyed it! Thank you so much for trying it. And we’re glad you’ve been coming back for more cocktails: it’s our goal to be a go-to resource! Thanks for saying so.
I make this drink regularly. It’s perfect and delicious!