Lemongrass (serai) is one of the foundational aromatics of Southeast Asian cooking, in everything from rendang to tom yum to ayam masak merah. As a cocktail ingredient, lemongrass brings a bright lemon-grass note (literally) that pairs beautifully with gin's juniper backbone. Built into a Gimlet (the British Navy's gin-and-lime classic), lemongrass turns the drink into something distinctly Klang Valley.

Ingredients

  • London Dry gin 60ml
  • Lemongrass cordial 30ml
  • Fresh lime juice 10ml
  • Thin lemongrass stalk to garnish

Method

  1. Add gin, lemongrass cordial, and lime to a shaker over ice.
  2. Shake hard for 10 seconds.
  3. Double-strain into a chilled coupe.
  4. Garnish with a thin lemongrass stalk (cut from a thin top section, lightly bruised) as a swizzle.

How to make lemongrass cordial

The traditional Gimlet uses Rose's Lime Cordial (a sweetened, slightly-bitter preserved lime). Our Lemongrass Gimlet uses a similar cordial structure with lemongrass replacing the lime as the primary aromatic.

For 500ml of cordial:

  • Fresh lemongrass 8 stalks (bottom 5cm, bruised and chopped)
  • Water 400ml
  • Sugar 350g
  • Fresh lime juice 100ml (the citric provides the cordial structure)
  • A pinch of salt

Method: simmer lemongrass in water 20 minutes, covered. The liquid should be deeply infused. Strain. Add sugar, dissolve. Add lime juice and salt. Cool. Bottle. Refrigerated, keeps 3 weeks.

For a more intense version, blanch lemongrass in boiling water for 30 seconds before simmering. The blanch wakes up the aromatic oils.

The gin question

London Dry is the canonical choice. The juniper-citrus profile pairs perfectly with lemongrass's lemon-grass character. Tanqueray, Beefeater, Sipsmith all work.

For an upgrade, a Southeast Asian craft gin: Tinker (Malaysian), Roku (Japanese, with sansho pepper), Monkey 47 (German, complex botanical). These add layers but should still respect the gin-as-platform principle.

Avoid heavily floral gins (Hendrick's with cucumber + rose) for this drink; they fight the lemongrass.

The ratio question

Our default is 2:1 gin to lemongrass cordial, plus a small lime-juice top-up for acid. Adjust based on your cordial's sweetness.

If your cordial is very sweet (more sugar than ours): drop to 25ml cordial and bump lime to 15ml.

If your cordial is more lemongrass-heavy and less sweet: 35ml cordial, no extra lime.

What it should taste like

Crisp, bright, lemongrass-forward on the nose, with gin's juniper warming the middle and lime sharpening the finish. The drink should drink "open"; you should taste each ingredient distinctly through the sip.

Variations

Lemongrass-Pandan Gimlet: add 5ml of pandan syrup. Two Southeast Asian aromatics layered.

Hot & Cold Gimlet: add a thin slice of cili padi to the shake. Lemongrass + chilli is a classic Southeast Asian pairing.

Vodka Lemongrass Gimlet: swap gin for vodka. Cleaner, less complex; lets the lemongrass dominate.

Lemongrass Highball: instead of straining into a coupe, build the gin + cordial + lime over ice in a Collins and top with soda. Long-format alternative.

The Malaysian context

Lemongrass is the easiest Southeast Asian aromatic to source. Every wet market has it; every supermarket too. Three stalks for RM 2. The flavour is universal enough that non-Malaysian guests recognise "lemongrass" immediately, but distinctive enough to mark the drink as locally rooted.

Related

Frequently asked questions

What glass is the Lemongrass Gimlet served in?

A chilled coupe, up, no ice. The drink is pale yellow-green and looks clean. A thin lemongrass stalk swizzle stands up out of the glass as the garnish. A Nick & Nora also works. The Gimlet is built short, so the glass should match.

Can I substitute the lemongrass with anything else?

Lemongrass (serai in Malay) is the structural aromatic and not really substitutable in this drink, the way mint isn't substitutable in a Mojito. Kaffir lime leaf gives you a different but related Southeast Asian Gimlet. Lemon thyme is the closest western herb cousin but reads completely different. Fresh lemongrass is easy to find at any wet market or supermarket in Malaysia at three stalks for RM 2; just use it.

How strong is the Lemongrass Gimlet?

Around 25 to 28 percent ABV in the glass after dilution. Similar to a classic Gimlet. The lemongrass cordial adds sweetness and aromatic but doesn't change the alcohol load. The drink is short and concentrated, built to be sipped slowly rather than knocked back.

Where can I order a Lemongrass Gimlet in PJ or KL?

At Dissolved Solids in Damansara Kim, Petaling Jaya (43-1 Jalan SS20/11, Tue to Sun 15:00 to 01:00, WhatsApp +60 11-4008 7607) is where this drink is poured at its home version, with fresh lemongrass cordial made weekly. Also on request at Soluble Solids in SS2, Petaling Jaya (50-1 Jalan SS2/24, Wed to Sun 18:00 to 01:00, WhatsApp +60 11-1682 8651). Both bars are in Tatler Asia Top 20 Bars 2025/26.

What food pairs with the Lemongrass Gimlet?

Anything lemongrass-led, naturally: tom yum, ayam masak merah, beef rendang where lemongrass is part of the rempah. Vietnamese fresh spring rolls. Grilled chicken wings with chilli salt. Sambal-grilled prawns. The drink is bright and aromatic, so it lifts food rather than competing with it. Avoid creamy or cheese-heavy dishes; the citrus acid fights them.