Grilled Lemon Gimlet

This Grilled Lemon Gimlet puts a smoky twist on the classic cocktail by using freshly grilled lemons for a bright, caramelized citrus flavor. Shaken with gin and simple syrup, it’s the perfect refreshing pairing for grilled Mediterranean dishes and summer entertaining. Recipe by Sarah Gualtieri

Jul 13 - 3 min cook

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Prep time:

10 min

Cook time

3 min

Total time

13 min

Makes

2

Gin
4 oz
Lemons
2
simple syrup
1 oz
Ice
for shaking
Lemon slices (for garnish)
2
1
Preheat your grill to medium-high heat.
2
Slice one lemon into two thin rounds for garnish and set aside. Cut the remaining lemons in half.
3
Place the lemon slices and lemon halves on the grill. Grill for 2–3 minutes, turning the slices once, until lightly charred.
4
Remove the lemons from the grill. Set the grilled lemon slices aside for garnish, then allow the lemon halves to cool slightly before squeezing enough juice to yield 2 ounces.
5
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the gin, grilled lemon juice, and simple syrup.
6
Shake vigorously for 15–20 seconds until well chilled.
7
Strain evenly into two chilled coupe or martini glasses.
8
Garnish each cocktail with a grilled lemon slice and serve immediately.

TIP

Don’t over-grill the lemons. You’re looking for light char marks and slight caramelization—about 2–3 minutes. Overcooking can make the juice bitter.

TIP

Chill your glasses. Place your coupe or martini glasses in the freezer for 10–15 minutes before serving to keep the cocktail colder longer.

TIP

Adjust the sweetness. Prefer a tarter cocktail? Reduce the simple syrup to ¾ ounce. For a sweeter drink, add an extra splash.

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