The Improved Gimlet

"A real gimlet is half gin and half Rose's lime juice and nothing else," said Terry Lennox in Raymond Chandler's book The Long Goodbye. If that's the case, I'll have a martini instead. Rose's is preserved lime juice, which came in handy in the days before refrigeration, but today we can buy fresh limes year-round. I think they taste much better.Visit the In Good Spirits blog to learn more about the Gimlet or visit our dedicated Drinks & Entertaining page for more cocktail recipes.

• 1-1/2 fl. oz. (3 Tbs.) gin
• 1/2 fl. oz. (1 Tbs.) simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water, shaken until sugar dissolves)
• 1/2 fl. oz. (1 Tbs.) fresh lime juice 

Put all of the ingredients in an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Shake and strain into a cocktail glass.