Friday Feature - Imbibing & Inspiring!

I wish I could say that today’s cocktail has been my signature drink for years but sadly I only became aware of them after Betty Draper glided up to a bar on Mad Men and casually ordered one. “I don’t know - a gimlet.” she said.  And with that I knew I had to find out what a hell a gimlet was and try one for myself. 

Photo from AMC.com

The gimlet intrigued me for a couple of reasons; first I had never heard of it before Mad Men came along and made drinking SO much cooler.

Second, because downing just one of these lime green lovelies is apparently all it takes to loosen up a very tightly wound, early sixties housewife just long enough to initiate, not give in to but initiate, some ultra-steamy, revenge sex with a total stranger……in the back room of the bar. Yowza, what’s in those things?

Turns out, just enough to do the trick.

A little gin (or vodka if you prefer and oh, I do!) with the tiniest splash of Rose’s Sweetened Lime Juice is all there is to this drink. Now, normally I would be all up on my high horse, railing against the atrocity of using anything but fresh-squeezed lime juice but I’ve tried it both ways and I gotta say, Rose’s is the only way to go.

If you’d like the proper recipe, click here.  This is how I make it:

Place the vodka (I prefer this one) or gin (about 1 ½ to 2 shots per drink) into a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add Rose’s to taste and shake gently until very cold. Strain into a well-chilled martini glass and enjoy.
(Photo of me & cocktail) Instant relaxation! (Caption)

Now: onto the inspiring:

Here are a few “Gimlet-Inspired” photos and a style board to boot.

Draper-inspired Headboard from Jonathan Adler

Credenza could double as a bar

Now if I were a modern day Betty Draper, this room is definitely where I'd be found sipping my gimlets.