Basil Gimlet co*cktail Recipe (made with vodka!) - A Nerd Cooks (2024)

Jun 25, 2018 · Modified: Sep 3, 2021 by Lauren Pacek · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

The Basil Vodka Gimlet is a supremely refreshing warm weather co*cktail.

This Basil Vodka Gimlet takes a classic co*cktail (usually made with gin) and turns it on its head. Basil vodka is flavorful and refreshing, and makes this drink perfect for summertime sipping.

This drink will keep you pleasantly tipsy all summer long.

Looking for more gimlet co*cktails? Try my French Gimlet and Strawberry Cucumber Vodka Gimlet!

🌟 Why You'll Love This Recipe

It's full of fresh flavor. This drink is brimming with fresh basil flavor.
It is very easy to make. Though it may look complicated, it's very easy to shake up a a gimlet.
You'll feel fancy while drinking it. Maybe it's the stemware, but you're going to feel fancy as heck while sipping on one of these.

💭 What is a gimlet?

Gimlets are a classic co*cktail. They're typically made with gin or vodka, sweetened lime juice (here's a good one), and soda water.

Our friend Melissa turned us on to them (she prefers the vodka variety). She makes a kickass gimlet. Since we don't get to see Melissa all that often anymore (alas, she and her husband live in Florida, we live in Pennsylvania), I had to take the gimlet-making into my own hands.

Though the original method is undeniably good (so refreshing!), I decided to make a very summery version.

💭 What is a Basil Vodka Gimlet?

A Basil Vodka Gimlet uses lime juice, simple syrup, and basil-infused vodka.

The flavors of basil and lime are really are so, so good together. I don't think that basil and lime get to play together very often. Or not nearly as often as they should, in my opinion.Despite this, they really are great together in this recipe. Both are bright and fresh.

📝 Ingredients

You only need THREE ingredients to make this drink.

• Lime juice: Freshly squeezed, please!
• Simple syrup: You can pick up a bottle of simple syrup at the store, or you can very easily make your own at home.
• Basil-infused vodka: This infused vodka smells and tastes like summer. Follow my recipe to find out how to make it.

👩🏻‍🍳 How to make a Basil Vodka Gimlet

Start out by pouring your lime juice into a co*cktail shaker with ice. I like to use one or two big cubes of ice to shake my co*cktails. This allows the drink to get nice and cold without diluting too much.

After that, add your simple syrup to the shaker.

Next, add your basil-infused vodka. You always want to add your ingredients to the co*cktail shaker starting with the least expensive, working your way up to the most expensive. That way, if you mess up the amount of some less expensive ingredient and need to start over, you aren't needlessly pouring your alcohol down the drain.

If you don't have or want to make the basil vodka, you can add a few leaves of fresh basil to the co*cktail shaker after you add your lime juice. Muddle it gently, then add the simple syrup and plain vodka. Shake and strain as usual. The flavor won't be exactly the same, but it will give some basil flavor.

Cap your co*cktail shaker and shake until it's very cold (about 10 seconds). Then strain the drink into your glass. I like to double strain my gimlets so that I don't have any shards of ice in my drink.

You don't have to use a stemmed glass like a coupe or a Nick and Nora glass (what I use in these photos), but it's traditional. And it looks nice!

From there, all that's left is to garnish your glass with a bit of fresh basil! Not only does it look pretty, but the extra basil aroma when you take a sip is really nice.

🔗 More gimlet recipes

If you want more gimlets, click on any of the photos below to go straight to the recipes. This Elderflower Gimlet is another really delicious, floral option, as well!

❓ FAQs

✨ Recipe

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