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This sage gimlet recipe is a unique and herbal sage gin cocktail that livens up the classic gimlet using sage simple syrup, fresh lime juice, and gin.

A sage gin gimlet sits on a pink stone countertop with a sprig of sage on the countertop and limes that have been squeezed on the counter.

For over 10 years, I’ve been crafting delicious homemade cocktail recipes using fresh ingredients. The best part about using seasonal ingredients is your inspiration never runs dry. Herbs and spices are wonderful ingredients to add to your home bartending game because they quickly and easily add lots of flavor.

Inspired by a sage simple syrup, this inventive cocktail combines the earthy flavors of sage with the botanical notes of gin and the zing of fresh lime juice. Sage seldom gets the spotlight without being part of a brown butter pasta sauce, but it’s time to change that with this beverage!

💕 why you’ll love this sage gimlet recipe

🪴 herbaceous. Herbs + cocktails = a match made in heaven. Adding the flavor of sage to the bold and botanical taste of gin makes for a super flavorful cocktail you won’t soon forget.

⏱️ quick & easy. This recipe is simple and straightforward, making it perfect for any home mixologist. It’s also a great drink to make for a party, because it won’t take you away from your guests for long!

🎛️ customizable. This cocktail can be easily customized to suit different preferences. Whether you prefer a sweeter or more tart cocktail, you can adjust the ingredients to your liking.

🛒 ingredients

A labeled ingredient shot showing the ingredients used to make a sage gimlet cocktail.
  • sage simple syrup – sage has a bold, bright, and almost bitter flavor to it that can be overwhelming if used fresh. Using a sage simple syrup helps to balance out the savory notes of sage with a bright sweetness.
  • gin – gin is known for being a botanical powerhouse, which works very well with the flavors of the sage simple syrup. Choose a lighter gin for this cocktail, like Bombay Sapphire or Hendricks. Of course, if you have a favorite gin, you can use that!
  • fresh lime juice – fresh lime juice is irreplaceable in cocktails, so resist the urge to use store bought juice. Check the substitutions and variations section if you can’t get your hands on fresh limes.

Optional Ingredient:

  • saline solution – a homemade saline solution for cocktails is my favorite secret weapon in any home bar. If your limes are acidic, or if your drink is too sweet, this quick and easy saline solution will help balance things out.

See the recipe card for exact quantities.

🍳 instructions

Chilling coupe cocktail glasses in preparation for making a sage gin cocktail.

Step 1: Chill your glasses by placing them in the freezer or filling them with ice for up to 15 minutes before serving.

A hand from out of frame is juicing limes to make a sage gin cocktail.

Step 2: Juice one lime per cocktail to get 1 ounce of fresh lime juice.

A hand from out of frame is pouring a sage simple syrup into a cocktail shaker.

Step 3: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add in your sage simple syrup.

A hand from out of frame is pouring freshly squeezed lime juice into a cocktail shaker.

Step 4: Pour in the lime juice.

A hand from out of frame is pouring gin into a cocktail shaker that has been filled with ingredients to make a sage gin gimlet.

Step 5: Add in your gin of choice.

A cocktail shaker has been shaken to mix ingredients for a sage gin gimlet.

Step 6: Shake vigorously for 15-30 seconds to combine all ingredients.

Double straining a sage gin gimlet into a cocktail coupe.

Step 7: Double strain through a fine mesh sieve or a cocktail sieve to remove any particles from the lime or sage syrup.

Garnishing a sage gin gimlet with a fresh sage leaf.

Step 8: Garnish with a fresh sage leaf and serve immediately.

Hint: You can adjust the sweetness of the sage gimlet by adding more or less sage simple syrup to suit your taste preferences.

💡tips and tricks for getting it right

🍽️ serving tips

How and when to serve your sage gin gimlets:

  • This is the perfect refreshing drink on a warm summer evening or as a signature cocktail for a special occasion.
  • Is sage one of your wedding colors? This cocktail could be an elevated welcome drink for guests at a happy hour or bridal party!
  • This flavorful cocktail is also perfect to make as a large batch cocktail.

Choose your glass

  • For a nice touch, chill your cocktail glasses before serving. You can do this by putting your glasses in the freezer or filling the cups with ice about 10-15 minutes before serving. Be sure to toss the ice out before straining your drinks into them!
  • Traditionally, a small coupe glass is the vessel of choice for serving a gimlet.
  • You can also use a Nick and Nora glass or a small martini glass.
  • If you’re using a larger glass, you may want to serve this drink over a large ice cube. It’s a small drink in volume, only about 4-5 ounces after shaking, so choose a glass that won’t make it like a super small serving.

Garnish

  • Garnishes serve as a beautiful touch, sure, but they’re also my favorite way to give your guests a little “flavor clue.”
  • Gently float a fresh sage leaf on the top of this cocktail for a classic garnish.
  • If you don’t have fresh sage, or if your sage leaves look kind of lackluster (sage is finicky like that) you can also garnish your cocktails with a fresh lime wheel or even a dehydrated lime wheel.

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ℹ️ troubleshooting tips

This classic cocktail is an easy one to make, but it can be quite strong. Also, using fresh ingredients can be tricky, because it’s hard to tell what a lime tastes like before you buy it. Try these troubleshooting tips if your gimlets don’t taste quite right.

  • too strong – if your cocktail is too strong, you can serve it over ice. Alternatively, you can double the amount of simple syrup and lime juice, or cut the amount of gin by half.
  • not a strong enough sage flavor – if you want a stronger sage flavor, muddle a few fresh sage leaves with the sage simple syrup before adding the rest of the ingredients to the cocktail shaker.
  • too bitter or acidic – if you are using fresh sage, or if your lime juice is very acidic, you may want to add in a few drops of a homemade saline solution.

🔆 top tip

For an extra burst of flavor, you can infuse the gin with fresh sage leaves overnight before preparing the drinks. This will add an additional layer of herbal complexity to the cocktail.

Adding a few drops of saline solution to a cocktail shaker filled with ingredients to make a sage gimlet.

♻️ substitutions & variations

♻️ substitutions

Missing an ingredient? No problem. Check out these tried-and-true substitutions, or comment below with your question. I’m here to help you troubleshoot!

  • use another herbal syrup – you can substitute sage simple syrup with rosemary syrup for a different herbal flavor. Alternatively, you can use thyme simple syrup or basil simple syrup.
  • use another liquor – you can also make this cocktail with a smooth vodka for a sage martini, or a silver rum for a sage daiquiri. You can also use bourbon or your whiskey of choice to make a sage old fashioned.
  • make it a mocktail – for a non-alcoholic version, you can use non-alcoholic gin alternatives or sparkling water for a refreshing and bubbly sage mocktail.
  • grapefruit or orange – both grapefruit juice and fresh orange juice play nicely with the flavor of sage. Use one of these juices in place of the lime juice for a zingy variation on this gimlet. You can also garnish your cocktails with a fresh grapefruit slice or orange wedge.

🧰 equipment needed & storage tips

🧰 tools needed

  • cocktail shaker – you’ll need a quality cocktail shaker for mixing your daiquiris. I love using this cocktail shaker from Elevated Craft because it is easy to measure liquids in the lid of the shaker. It’s also double-walled, meaning your hands don’t get cold while shaking your cocktails!
  • cocktail glass – a small coupe glass is the traditional cocktail glass of choice for a gimlet. You can also use a small martini glass, or a Nick & Nora glass.
  • measuring beakers or jigger – I prefer using these OXO nesting measuring beakers instead of jiggers because you can use them for so many more recipes aside from drinks. They come in a graduated set perfect for measuring small amounts of liquid.
  • cocktail strainer – a cocktail strainer is a miniature fine mesh strainer that’s made specifically for straining cocktails. It seems a little extra, but trust me, it’s worth the investment if you’re making lots of drinks at home. It’s especially necessary to double strain this drink because it helps strain out any stray particles from the sage syrup and lime juice.

🫙 how to store your sage gimlets

Since the cocktail uses fresh citrus juice and homemade sage-infused simple syrup, it’s best to consume it immediately after mixing.

You can prepare a batch of these gimlets and store them for up to 48 hours in the fridge.

If you want to store them longer, you can pop the cocktail into the freezer door for up to a week. 😉 They will get slushy but they won’t freeze solid because of the liquor content. The flavor of the sage may break down in the freezer once mixed with the lime juice, so again, it is best served fresh.

💬 q+a

Do I need to use sage simple syrup for this cocktail?

Yes, take the time to make a batch of sage simple syrup for the best flavor. While you can muddle fresh sage leaves into a cocktail shaker, fresh sage can be bitter in flavor. The mild heat from the infusion process helps to balance out the strong savory notes of sage.

Can I make this cocktail using another type of liquor?

Yes, you can use vodka, tequila, or even rum in this gimlet recipe.

How can I make the sage flavor stronger?

You can make a stronger sage simple syrup, or you can reduce the amount of lime juice in the recipe. You can also infuse your gin with sage leaves for a few hours before making this cocktail.

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A sage gin gimlet sits on a pink stone countertop with a sprig of sage on the countertop and limes that have been squeezed on the counter.

Easy Sage Gin Gimlet (Sage Gin Cocktail Recipe)

This sage gimlet recipe is a unique and herbal sage gin cocktail that livens up the classic gimlet using sage simple syrup, fresh lime juice, and gin.
5 from 1 vote
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Course: Cocktail
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cocktail, Gin, herbs, lime, sage
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 1
Calories: 187kcal
Author: Lindsey Neumayer

Equipment

  • 1 coupe glass
  • 1 cocktail strainer or small fine mesh sieve
  • 1 small measuring beaker or jigger

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Chill your glasses by placing them in the freezer or filling them with ice for up to 15 minutes before serving.
  • Juice one lime per cocktail to get 1 ounce of fresh lime juice.
  • Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add in your sage simple syrup.
  • Pour in the lime juice.
  • Add in your gin of choice.
  • Shake vigorously for 15-30 seconds to combine all ingredients.
  • Double strain through a fine mesh sieve or a cocktail sieve to remove any particles from the lime or sage syrup.
  • Garnish with a fresh sage leaf and serve immediately.

Notes

If your drink is bitter or acidic, you may want to add 3-5 drops of a homemade saline solution to help balance out the flavor of your cocktails.

Nutrition Information

Servings: 1
Calories: 2mg
Total Fat: 2mg
Saturated Fat: 2mg
Trans Fat: 2mg
Cholesterol: 2mg
Sodium: 2mg
Carbohydrates: 2mg
Fiber: 2mg
Sugar: 2mg
Protein: 2mg

The information provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition facts calculator and actual nutrition facts may vary.

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