Sharkbait’s Cocktail of the Week: You Put the Lime in the…Gin?

Happy Friday people. We’re going back to the Martini cocktail book this week. I’ve been sitting on a lime martini for a while now, and with the weather getting warmer, it seems like a good time to try it and see if it will become a summer mainstay. I’ll be honest though, when I first leafed through the book, I assumed this drink was just a gimlet with a minor tweak: the subtraction of simple syrup and lime cordial, and the addition of fresh juice and dry vermouth in their places. I’m curious to see if that makes it just different from a gimlet or not. Let’s find out. 

The Lime Martini

4 0z. London dry gin

1 oz. dry vermouth

1 0z. fresh lime juice

lime slice or twist to garnish

Combine gin, vermouth, and lime juice in a cocktail shaker or mixing glass filled with ice. Shake or stir, as desired. Strain into a coupe and garnish with the lime

The aroma is heavy on the lime. Shocking, I know. An ounce of fresh juice and a garnish will do that. 

Not gonna lie, I was expecting this to be much too lime forward for my liking. I’m pleasantly surprised to report that it isn’t overwhelmingly lime heavy. It’s still the dominating flavor, but I was expecting a lot more citric sour flavor than what I’m getting here. 

Of course the lime plays well with the gin. It’s a match made in heaven. The gin though ends up playing second fiddle to the lime juice for the most part.  Towards the end I can start to get more of the signature gin flavors come through. Which is still rather nice. Especially as someone who loves a good, strong gin and tonic. 

The vermouth adds some depth and I think helps cut the sour lime juice that would otherwise get too intense. Essentially taking the place of the quinine in tonic. 

The finish is a good mix of the lime and the gin, with the gin notes staying on the  palate just a little bit longer than I would like, but overall, its pretty good and well balanced. 

However, this drink does start to lose me a bit. I like it, dont get me wrong. It’s not so much gimlet adjacent, but gin and tonic adjacent. Honestly it’s too close for me to really appreciate it for what it is. I get that’s what the author is going for, because he says he created this martini variation in fathers honor because his father loved gin and tonics so much. Even knowing that, my head and palate keep asking “where’s the tonic? Where’s the tonic?” So again, while this is good, if I’m looking for this kind of flavor profile? I’m just gonna stick with the gin and tonic.

(Banner image courtesy Matthew Tetrault Photography)