Rose's Sweetened Lime Juice, 1 Liter, 2 Pack

Rose's is a sweetened lime cordial rather than plain lime juice. Lime is carried in syrup, so the bottle is tart and sweet at the same time and does two jobs in a glass at once. The flavor is a slightly candied, almost floral lime, distinct from the bright edge of a fresh-cut one.

That character is why the Gimlet is built on it. The classic version is simply gin and Rose's, stirred cold, with nothing else added for sweetness. Bartenders treat the cordial as its own ingredient for exactly that reason and not as a stand-in for fresh lime, since swapping one for the other one to one changes both the acid and the sugar in the drink at the same time.

This is the two-pack of one liter bottles, a working quantity for anyone who makes gimlets and vodka gimlets often or keeps it behind the bar for Rickeys and tall soda drinks. It also earns its keep in a shrimp marinade, brushed over grilled chicken, or whisked into a dressing.