The Winter Fruit Ina Garten Uses To Elevate A Classic Gimlet
The gimlet, according to The Black Label, had a resurgence in popularity with the advent of the hit show "Mad Men" and Betty Draper's love for this classic cocktail that generally consists of gin, lime juice, and maybe some soda water. Of course, the gimlet goes back much further than Don Draper coming up with the iconic "I'd like to buy the world a Coke" ad campaign. Per Spirits Beacon, the gimlet is rumored to have possibly gotten its name from Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Desmond Gimlette in the 19th Century when Gimlette mixed up his variation of this drink in an effort to help his seaman fight off scurvy.
The gimlet is still in style and there are plenty of riffs and variations on this adult beverage. According to Liquor.com, from pink peppercorns to cucumbers to basil and lime, there are plenty of ways to customize this drink and make it your own.
A gimlet made with beautiful citrus is perfect in the summer, but when those colder months roll around, celebrity chef Ina Garten has a winter take on this cocktail that will not only elevate its taste but may make the gimlet your new go-to dinner party drink to impress guests.
Persephone couldn't resist this fruit
Ina Garten took to her Instagram account to share she uses the juice of the fruit that led to the Greek goddess Persephone having to spend six months in Hades: the beloved pomegranate. Garten revealed her winter go-to cocktail is a pomegranate gimlet. The Barefoot Contessa wrote, "Pomegranate Gimlets from my new book Modern Comfort Food are the perfect holiday cocktail!" To make this drink, Garten sticks to the classic ingredients but adds a little Pom Wonderful (pomegranate juice) to brighten the flavor and add to the festiveness of this drink.
But there's another reason using pomegranate juice in your winter gimlet makes sense. According to the North Beach Fish Camp, using in-season produce in your cocktails automatically gives you a more flavorful drink. Strawberries can be found year-round in grocery stores, as can blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and plenty of other fruits we know and love. However, just because they are in the produce aisle doesn't mean they will be at their most optimal to consume. In fact, according to blogger Joe Cross, in-season fruit is at its sweetest and tastiest when it is in season. Not to mention, it is also cheaper and easier to come by.
So, if you are looking for a way to change up your gimlet or other favored cocktail, consider experimenting with in-season fruit.