When the heat of summer finally hits, I know it’s cordial time. Specifically, lime cordial, a tart and refreshing mixer that’s perfect for summertime sipping. Rose’s is the most well known brand of lime cordial, but this homemade version is even better, with a punchy lime flavor and a perfectly balanced sweetness.
This no-cook recipe is ridiculously easy, all you need is sugar, limes, and a little bit of time and patience and you’ll have the makings for one excellent cocktail: just add gin (or pisco, or rum, or club soda).
I first attempted making my own lime cordial because I wanted to make the perfect gin Gimlet.
There are lots of variations on the Gimlet floating around, some calling for fresh lime juice and simple syrup, which is a great combination, but should really be called a sour rather than a gimlet. Don’t get me wrong, I love sours (like this raspberry lime sour) but to make a proper gimlet, you really need lime cordial.
Most Gimlet recipes call for Rose’s Lime Cordial, a commercially available lime cordial that has artificial sweeteners and colors and a more processed lime flavor that I don’t love, so I figured, why not try to make my own?
I’ll tell you, once I tried my homemade lime cordial in a gimlet, I will never again buy the bottled stuff, especially considering just how easy it turned out to be to make myself.
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