That “Gimlette” can obviously be made with gin, which is excellent, but I like it a lot with light rum, just as I do a “real” Gimlet.

My conclusion was that I need more of a “cooked” flavor, and a more concentration of flavor. To the original batch, I added (in two episodes) more lime juice, boiled to reduce it to half the original volume. Finally, I achieved the intensity I love in Rose’s (which, btw, is NOT a terribly chemical-laden product, although I hate the knowledge that it’s made from HFCS).

yesterday, I tried a grapefruit version. Here’s my tactic:

Zest 3 or 4 large grapefruits. Reserve the zest (doesn’t have to be ALL the zest). Juice the fruit, and strain. Measure the juice– should be over 16 oz.– then put in a small pan to boil.

Watch it… keep a (liquid) measuring cup at the ready. Measure it now and then, to check the progress of the reduction. When it’s reduced to half its original volume, remove it from the stove, and add it to the zest. Add 1/2 the volume of cane sugar, and stir to dissolve. That is: if you’ve now got 8oz of reduced GF juice, add 4 oz (by volume) of cane sugar.

After steeping at least 15 minutes, strain into a bottle or jar.

I love what I’ve got! My only complaint is that while it’s very flavorful, it’s not quite acidic enough for use as a lime cordial, i.e. as a grapefruit gimlet.

Here’s what I’ve devised:

GRAPEFRUIT GIMLETTE
1.5 oz light rum
.75 oz grapefruit cordial
.5 oz lemon juice
a couple of dashes of Fee’s grapefruit bitters

Shake long and hard with a lot of ice. This benefits from allowing a bit of dilution! Strain into cocktail glass.

Alternately, pour it all over rocks in a DOF or tall glass, then fill w soda.

Regards from Minneapolis!

p.s. I can’t agree with your equating Rose’s Lime Cordial with Rose’s Grenadine. The Lime is, IMO, still unique, classic, and delicious. Their Grenadine, on the other hand, is an abomination! The lime cordial is made of actual LIME JUICE, but the so-called grenadine has nothing of pomegranate in it– just redness and HFCS, as far as I can tell. My own pet grenadine is Routin 1883′s “Grenade,” made with actual pomegranate.

Having dated a Gimlet fan, but also wanting to get high fructose out of picture, I made fumbling attempts at using fresh juice, with lackluster results. Research seemed to indicate that the conundrum centered on the difference between ordinary limes and key limes.

Thus, the inkling for “homemade” Rose’s, akin to the difference between Rose’s Grenadine and the stuff you make from actual juice.

Shall report the results.