Casino Cocktail Friday -- Of Roulettes and Gimlettes

Welcome to September! Ahh yes.. cool clean air, and cool clean drinks. Today we salute the Gimlet. So simple, and so classic, and its paired with another classic, the Roulette wheel. What visit to the casino is complete without a quick stop at the Roulette table? None we say! You show up, you watch a round or two... and then you bet on your lucky number, or on black, or if you're feeling really crazy, on double 0.

Much like like the roulette wheel has its two main colors, so the gimlet has its two main ingredients, Gin and Lime Juice. And for once betting on green seems like a good idea, because the lime in a gimlet is what gives it its delicious flavor. Read on to find out a little more of today's pairing.

The Gimlet

1 1/4 oz gin
1 1/4 oz Rose's® lime juice
1 lime wedge

The Tequila Gimlet
11/4 oz tequila
1 1/4 oz Rose's® lime juice
1 lime wedge

The gimlet was originally conceived by the British Navy as a remedy to prevent scurvy, combining their rations of gin and lime juice. Roulette, on the other hand, was likely invented by Blaise Pascal, a 17th Century French mathematician. How is it these two very different concoctions work so well together, we cannot say, but belive us, when you sit down at the roulette table, and you first cash in for chips, flag down the cocktail waitress and get yourself a gimlet.

Some prefer the original gimlet, made with gin, and It has a back bite that will leave a slightly bitter taste in your mouth. Others prefer the tequila variety, but a few too many of those can make you a wild (and sometimes angry) drunk, so watch out!

We like to play roulette slow, not blowing all our chips on one all or nothing bet. Thats how your gimlet should be treated as well. Its not a slurping drink, its a sipping drink. You place a few chips on your bet of choice, be it red, black, or a number, and take a sip of heaven. Watch the wheel spin, and your fate be played out, then relax, risne and repeat.

Heres what our good friend Jake over at Liquor Snob had to say about today's combo:

The gimlet is a classic drink that has fallen out of favor in recent years. With only two ingredients it seems to be simplicity in itself, but if it's mixed right there's a nuance there that might surprise you. That's why it's the perfect drink for the roulette table - at first blush roulette seems to be an idiot's game...you bet on where the little ball will land on the little wheel. But, just like the Gimlet, there are layers of complexity under the surface that will add to your enjoyment. As an added bonus, if you get sick of roulette you can take your Gimlet to the poker table - if you make it with fresh lime juice it will add a pucker to your puss that will let you forget about keeping your poker face.

Well said sir, well said. We couldn't agree with you more.

Here is a little more for you to check out, to learn all you need to konw about the Gimlet, and Roulette:

The Liquor Snob

Some interesting facts about the History of Roulette

A collection of Gimlet Recipes

Wizard of Odds -- Roulette

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