• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • index
  • about
  • photography
  • hire me

With Spice logo

menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • home
  • recipes
  • index
  • photography
  • about
×
Home » drinks » vanilla lemon vodka gimlet

March 16, 2020

vanilla lemon vodka gimlet

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

If you love the fragrance of real vanilla beans, this lemon gimlet is your drink. It’s a smooth, delicate drink that radiates the rich smell of vanilla. I use fresh lemon juice to brighten the flavors and a high quality vodka to keep the drink clean and pure.

This lemon gimlet scales up super easily, so if you’re making them for a party you can mix up a pitcher and chill it in the fridge until your guests arrive.

vanilla lemon vodka gimlet

what is in a lemon gimlet?

Traditionally, a gimlet was made with gin and sweetened lime juice. The cocktail goes back to the 19th century when the Royal Navy was given lime juice to ward off scurvy. The sailors diluted their ration of gin with the lime juice and sugar and called it a gimlet, named after the corkscrew-like device used to tap the barrel of lime juice.

In this recipe, I replace gin with vodka, lime juice with lemon juice, and sweeten the cocktail with a vanilla infused simple syrup.

It’s a far cry from what the sailors used to drink, but I have a feeling you won’t mind the changes!

lemon gimlet with vanilla bean and vodka

how do you serve a lemon gimlet?

It's best to serve a gimlet in a coupe or cocktail glass. I prefer to use chilled glasses to keep the drink cold, but this is optional. If you don’t have a coupe, any small (6- 8 oz) glass will work great.

how do you store simple syrup?

The simple syrup can be stored in a glass jar, refrigerated, for up to 1 month. You can also keep it in the freezer for up to 6 months.

vanilla vodka gimlet with lemon

what can I do with the used vanilla bean?

I prefer to leave the whole vanilla bean in the syrup to maximize the flavor, but it’s not necessary. Here are some other ideas of how to use your spent vanilla bean:

  • Infuse sugar or salt (just bury it in the container)
  • Homemade vanilla extract (steep 1 bean in ¼ cup vodka for a few months)
  • Infused alcohol (steep 1 bean in a bottle of whiskey, vodka or rum for a week or two)
  • In tea (steeped with chai spices, black tea and hot water, for example)
  • In coffee (dry the pod, grind it in a spice grinder and add the vanilla powder to your fresh coffee grinds)
  • Infused maple syrup (place the bean in the bottle of maple syrup, let steep for a few weeks)
  • Vanilla sugar body scrub
vanilla bean simple syrup
how to make vanilla bean simple syrup

related recipes:

the best gin sour

vodka spiked lemonade

rhubarb gin fizz

sparkling raspberry basil shrub cocktail

sparkling elderflower gin cocktail


Print

vanilla lemon vodka gimlet

vanilla lemon vodka gimlet
Print Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 1 review

If you love the fragrance of real vanilla beans, this lemon gimlet is your drink. It’s a smooth, delicate vodka drink that radiates rich vanilla and lemon.

  • Author: Indi Hampton
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 1
  • Category: Drinks
  • Method: Shaken
  • Cuisine: American

Ingredients

vanilla bean simple syrup

  • 1 vanilla bean
  • ½ cup sugar
  • ½ cup water

vodka gimlet

  • 2 oz vodka
  • ½ oz lemon juice
  • ¾ oz vanilla bean simple syrup (recipe above)

Instructions

vanilla bean simple syrup

  1. Use a pairing knife to cut the vanilla bean in half lengthwise, then use the knife to scrape out the seeds. Put the seeds, vanilla bean, sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is fully dissolved. Transfer syrup and vanilla bean to a glass container and let cool. Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.

vodka gimlet

  1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and pour in the vodka, lemon juice and vanilla bean simple syrup. Shake until chilled, about 30 seconds. Strain into a chilled coupe or cocktail glass and enjoy.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1
  • Calories: 169
  • Sugar: 9.9g
  • Sodium: 4.4mg
  • Fat: 0g
  • Saturated Fat: 0g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 0g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 11g
  • Fiber: 0.1g
  • Protein: 0.1g
  • Cholesterol: 0mg

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @with_spice on Instagram

« fennel confit with tarragon and lemon
how to make chili oil »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Desarae says

    June 16, 2020 at 7:11 am

    I’m heading to the kitchen now to make this vanilla syrup! I think it would be such a great thing to have on hand, with so many uses! Definitely for this cocktail tonight. Do you know where you got these glasses from? I love the long stem 😍

    Reply
    • Indi Hampton says

      June 16, 2020 at 2:18 pm

      yes! the syrup is SO good!! the glasses are from Crate and Barrel! (https://www.crateandbarrel.com/camille-champagne-coupe-glass/s205117)

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

Primary Sidebar

About me

Hello! My name is Indi— thanks so much for stopping by! Here I share my favorite seasonal recipes, be it sweet or savory, appetizer or entrée. Take a look around!

To learn more about me, Click here!

Copyright © 2025 · Brunch Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in