Pink Peppercorn Botanical Gimlet

The PINK PEPPERCORN BOTANICAL GIMLET is a fancy name for a limey gin gimlet with some pink peppercorn accents. It’s surprisingly refreshing, tasty, and great for a summertime drink. The hardest part of the preparation is simply getting the pink peppercorns from the store. Otherwise, it just takes ten minutes to mix and pour. The recipe was presented last summer by founder and CEO of Square One Botanical Vodka, Allison Evanow, as a vodka alternative to the gin gimlet for those who don’t care for gin. She stated that “the peppery notes of this Gimlet offset all the spirit’s floral and fruit notes.” But it works beautifully with gin. The owner of Aviation gin, actor Ryan Reynolds, might be pleased to hear that his American gin gets a big thumbs up in this mix, over the intended botanical vodka.

Requirements: Gin (or Square One Botanical Vodka), pink peppercorns, fresh lime juice, lime wheel, agave nectar

• 2 oz. gin (or Square One Botanical Vodka)
• 1 oz. fresh lime juice
• 1/2 oz. agave nectar
• 1/4 oz. pink peppercorns
• Garnish with peppercorns and lime wheel

In a cocktail shaker, lightly muddle the pink peppercorns until crushed. Add remaining ingredients with ice and shake until icy cold. Double-strain (pour through the shaker and through another mesh-type filter) into an ice-filled old-fashioned glass. Garnish with 5-6 peppercorns and a lime wheel.

Comments: I find this recipe refreshingly agreeable and tasty. I’ll one day try the recipe with Square One Botanical Vodka as intended; but until then, I’m happy to have found this gimlet recipe to combine with gin.