How to Make a Vodka Gimlet

You may see gimlet recipes that call for this juice. It's a sweetened juice from concentrate that is often used in mixed drinks. It's made with artificial flavors. The ingredients are water, high fructose corn syrup, lime juice concentrate, sodium metabisulfite, natural flavors, and Blue 1.
Sodium metabisulfite is a food preservative used in potato preparation, cherry brining, and corn syrup manufacturing.
Blue 1 is a dye and coloring for processed foods.
In my opinion, you are better off using the juice from real, fresh limes. You can use the same amount of the sweetened lime juice if you wish.

A gimlet and a vodka gimlet are basically the same vibe, the only real difference is the liquor you pour. A classic gimlet uses gin with lime juice and a little simple syrup or lime cordial.

Using bottled lime juice: Fresh lime is everything here. Bottled juice tastes flat and slightly bitter. A gimlet only has a few ingredients, so fresh-squeezed lime is non-negotiable if you want it to pop.
Getting the ratio wrong: Too much lime and it’s sour face city. Too much syrup and it tastes like lime candy. You want that sweet-tart balance where neither one overpowers the other.
Over-sweetening: Some folks treat it like a margarita and go heavy on sugar. A gimlet should be crisp and bright, not sugary.

Why is it called a gimlet? Historically, a gimlet was referred to as a drink that required 2 parts gin and one part lime juice. A film in the '50s stated that the drink is half gin and half Rose's Lime juice and nothing else.
Somewhere along the way vodka fans, like myself, came in and wanted a piece of the action, and thus a similar drink came about.

Simple syrup is one part sugar or sweetener and one part water. You make syrup by heating it in a saucepan on the stove over medium-high heat. The mixture will look cloudy, as you continue to stir it will turn clear signaling it has finished.

For one cocktail, you would only need ½ tablespoon of sweetener and ½ tablespoon of water. In general, it makes sense to make your own simple syrup when making large batches.

Absolutely. Fresh lime juice is my preference because it gives the cocktail a brighter, fresher flavor than bottled juice.

Not necessarily. If you're using sweetened lime juice or lime cordial, you may not need additional sweetener. If you're using fresh lime juice, a little simple syrup helps balance the tartness.

Yes. You can mix the vodka, lime juice, and sweetener ahead of time and store it in the fridge. Wait to add ice until you're ready to serve.

I prefer shaking it with ice. Shaking chills the drink quickly and gives it a crisp, refreshing finish.