Sage Gin Gimlet
Sage Gin Gimlet
The Sage Gin Gimlet is Earthy, Aromatic, and Effortlessly Elegant, and quite shockingly so!
The sweet and tangy flavours of a Gin Gimlet meet the subtle umami qualities of sage leaf in this latest example of the herb-focused cocktail movement. Sage has an earthy, almost savoury quality with subtle peppery notes. It complements gin’s juniper and citrus botanicals without fighting them. The result is a Gimlet that feels grounded and sophisticated, less bright than the original, but with genuine depth.
The Gimlet is perhaps one of the oldest cocktails that we still know today, with its very sweet and very sour flavour profile; the Gimlet is definitely what we would call a ‘sour’, that is to say it is a sour drink that is tempered by sugar. Adding the herbaceous savoury flavour of fresh sage leaves brings a balance of sweet and sour and earthy pepperiness to this classic cocktail, and cements its place as the latest entrant into the savoury cocktail craze. While obviously it is still a Gimlet, it has evolved somewhat with the introduction of Sage.
Sage has been cultivated in Europe for many centuries, it was always known for its medicinal properties, during the middle ages it was even said to help stave off Bubonic plague, though obviously this was a little far-fetched, nonetheless sage has spread from Mediterranean region of it’s origin to be found all over the World. It’s healing properties are still widely respected, which is what I love about putting it into a Gimlet. The Gimlet itself was bourne out of a need to improve the health of sailors in the 16th and 17th centuries, so it is something of an ironic twist that here we are 300 years later adding an even older medicinal herb to that very original elixer-cocktail.
While basil and rosemary get most of the attention in the herb-forward cocktail movement, sage is quietly having its moment. This variation on the classic Gimlet showcases sage’s earthy, slightly peppery character. It’s more subtle than other herb cocktails, making it perfect for those who find rosemary too assertive.
Ingredients
- 60ml Gin
- 22.5ml Fresh lime juice
- 15ml Simple syrup
- 8-10 fresh sage leaves (never use dried leaves)
- 1 sage leaf for garnish
How to Make It:
- Add sage leaves to your shaker, then fill with ice and shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds,. Do not be tempted to muddle the Sage leaves, this will come with the shaking.
- Add gin, lime juice, and simple syrup and shake again, let the shaker rest with the shaken ingredients for 30 seconds or so to absorb the oils from the leaves.
- Double strain into a chilled coupe glass.
- Garnish with a single perfect sage leaf. Slap it gently against your hand first to release the aromatics.
Variation: For a low ABV drink, build it over ice in a rocks glass and top with a splash of soda water.
