In the 19th century, British sailors used to mix their rations of lime juice (to prevent scurvy) with rum, creating the gimlet and other gin-lime cocktails. This Cool o’ the Evening cocktail from the Charleston Receipts (The Junior League of Charleston, 1950) uses the same citrus-gin idea but replaces lime with lemon and adds a decidedly landlubber ingredient: fresh mint. Add seltzer for a variation, but you can’t really go wrong with this basic combination of tart and sweet – even on a warm evening.
Cool o’ the Evening (1950)
Makes 1 drink
1 sprig mint
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2 teaspoon sugar
2 ounces light rum
Crush the mint in a shaker [I used a mortar and pestle and then scraped the mint into the shaker]. Add the other ingredients, using finely chopped ice and shake until frost forms. Serve in a chilled glass.
