The Incomparable Gimlet

I was inspired to create this drink after a recent trip to Chicago, where I happened upon a bar that was still using egg whites and powdered sugar in their mixes. Up until then it was only something I’d read about and it seemed archaic, but after the first sip I was sold. I don’t know who was first inspired to use egg whites in a cocktail, but they deserve a medal, because it was a stroke of genius. The egg whites make the drink taste creamy and rich; think of it as the whipped cream on your sundae.

While at the bar I had a Tom Collins and a Gimlet that utilized both of these ingredients, and they each went down smoother and tasted better than any I’d had before. The sugar and egg kill the harsh qualities of the alcohols being mixed, which is probably why they were such a necessity years ago.

Although the Tom Collins I had was good, I’m just not a big fan of that drink to begin with. The Gimlet, on the other hand, hit the bull’s eye. It was my drink of choice for a while, and during that time I discovered there is a very thin line between a good and bad Gimlet. The key is using just the right amount of lime juice, which varies with the kind of vodka or gin you are using. However, even with a properly made Gimlet most people wouldn’t have more than one before switching to something else. Fortunately, adding sugar and egg whites not only takes the guesswork out of the process, it makes the drink taste …good. Think: lime smoothie.

For my recipe, I used Skyy vodka that was infused with ginger for one week. You can’t get away with using a rotgut-quality vodka; use something that you’d be able to have straight. Anything without a feral animal on the label should be fine. To infuse, simply peel one ginger root as you would a potato, slice, and place in a container with a standard 750ml bottle of vodka. You definitely want to use a fresh ginger root , and not the powdered stuff. I wrapped my ginger in cheesecloth so I wouldn’t have to dig out the pieces later on, but it’s not necessary. I let mine infuse for a week, but you could shorten that time by adding more.

Now that we have our vodka, let’s make the Gimlet.

Wipe the rim of your glass with lime, then coat with powdered sugar ( I used Sugar in the Raw for the picture, but powdered sugar will give a better flavor.) Fill the glass with ice and add: 2.5 parts ginger vodka 1 part egg white (I’d recommend Egg Beaters) .5 parts of Rose’s Sweetened Lime Juice to taste – if you use the unsweetened variety, or fresh-squeezed juice, you’ll need to add powdered sugar or simple syrup to the mixture. Shake or stir vigorously, drink in a dimly-lit room. Cheers!