Rye Gimlet and Cheers to my Grandmother Gloria
This time last year, Daragh and I were hurrying across Ireland, trying to get home to my mom who was staying with my in-laws near Dublin. Perhaps selfishly, or perhaps wisely, we stopped at the Cliffs of Moher that morning anyway, as it was part of our road trip with friends that was cut short. Our family had been rocked the night before by the news that my grandma was likely taking her last breaths. Coming to terms with such a huge loss in such a beautiful place was a really lucky and therapeutic thing. The sheer expanse of the cliffs and the mesmerizing waves below were a comfort to me then, and still are. She died peacefully across the ocean from us in Canada, at 95 years old. My brother was there with her in her last hours, and for that I’m so glad.
I had 3 decades to learn from her and this is what I’ve gathered;
Be kind to others, and make people feel special by really looking and listening to them,
Life is not easy or fair, and “sometimes you have to laugh or you’ll cry”,
Anytime is a good time to have fun. Make the most of each day and celebrate often.
My grandmother loved to eat good food, to dance, and to have a drink once in while. She claims that she was only drunk once, and always declared when offered a refill that if she had another she’d “be dancing on the tables!”.
The only drink she ever ordered was a Rye Gimlet. She carried around a newspaper clipping in her purse with the recipe that she would hand out at restaurants to make sure it was made to her specifications. More often than not, she’d send it back because it didn’t have quite enough foam. Despite being ‘discerning’, she was well liked by all of our servers and would make them (and everyone around her) laugh.
She lost her creased and yellowed newspaper clipping in her last years, and no one could get a Gimlet quite right for her. I have a sneaking suspicion that the Gimlets that she did approved of in her life, contained a little egg white to create the froth that she adored.
Today I am thinking about the woman that overcame so many things in her life, that brought such happiness to our family, and the great meals, laughs and celebrations that we shared, and I’m doing it drinking a Gimlet.
Cheers grandma! x
Grandma Gloria at 94 years old.
Ingredients
1.5 oz Rye Whisky
1.5 tablespoons fresh squeezed lime juice
Lime wedge/slice for garnish
Spoonful of egg white (about 1/4 of total whites of 1 egg)
1/2 teaspoon powdered sugar
Tools
ice (big cubes are best)
Cocktail shaker or mason jar with lid
strainer
cooled glass to serve
Rye Gimlet
Servings 1 Time 5 minutes
Recipe Adapted from a Food&Wine recipe
Directions
Put your serving glass in the freezer to chill.
In a jar with lid (or cocktail shaker if you have one) add all ingredients and shake until frothy (about 12 times).
Add ice to shaker, and shake until cold.
Strain into a chilled serving glass. The foam will rise to the top and separate from the drink.
Top with a lime garnish if desired.
