This lime cordial recipe will put Rose’s Sweetened Lime Juice to shame when it comes time to mix a Gimlet cocktail. Lime cordial is an essential ingredient in a Gimlet but, Rose’s Sweetened Lime Juice is the only readily available commercial product in the U.S.. This is unfortunate, as it is a poor rendition of Rose’s Lime Cordial as sold in the UK. So, while it’s possible to order a bottle from Amazon or perhaps find it in a British food store, the pursuit of a proper lime cordial often requires a home remedy.
Some bartenders simply use lime juice and simple syrup, but that means your Gimlet turns into a gin-based Daiquiri. The oils in the lime peel are essential to filling out the flavor, and citric acid adds brightness to the final product and acts as a preservative. If you’re not familiar with citric acid powder, it’s widely available from food retailers and will typically be found in any section catering to home canning as it’s used to increase the acidity of home-canned goods.
The recipe we present here is a variation on what a respected bartender, Jeffrey Morgenthaler, uses. We find his version a bit too sweet, so we adjust the proportions.
This lime cordial recipe is delicious, but it does not produce a transparent product. To do that you need to clarify the lime juice and steep rather than blend the lime peels. There are several methods available, but the easiest is using agar. We’re going to leave you to your own devices there as it becomes significantly more involved, and by now you’re probably thirsty. If, however, you are looking for a definitive guide on clarifying juices we strongly recommend Dave Arnold’s book Liquid Intelligence.
Lime Cordial
Equipment
- Blender
- Bottle
- Peeler, zester or microplane
Ingredients
- 8 oz Sugar
- 8 oz Warm water
- 4 Limes
- 1 oz Citric acid
Instructions
- Wash and dry limes. Use peeler or microplane to remove the zest of about 4 limes. If you're using a peeler try to keep the amount of white pith to a minimum, but a small bit is alright.
- Juice limes and pass through a fine strainer.
- Warm the water and place in blender.
- Add lime zest, sugar, citric acid and 3.5 oz of lime juice to blender.
- Blend for about 30 seconds.
- Fine strain into bottle and refrigerate.
