The Refreshingly British Pimm’s Cup Cocktail
On a warm summer day, there’s nothing quite like sipping on a cool, refreshing Pimm’s Cup cocktail. This quintessentially British cocktail has been enjoyed for generations.
With its vibrant orange hue, medley of fresh fruit, and lively carbonation, the Pimm’s Cup is the perfect libation to savor while soaking up the sunshine. You might expect to feel transported to the lush gardens and cricket pitches of England.
A Very British History
Pimm’s Cup is actually more a punch than a cocktail. It has its roots in the 1840s, when James Pimm, the owner of a London oyster bar, created a gin-based beverage he called “Pimm’s No. 1 Cup.” This elixir was designed as a digestif, meant to be sipped after a hearty meal to aid in digestion.
It was served as the house ale, and the recipe was perfected over many years until it became what you can buy today: a gin-based, low alcohol spice and citrus spirit.
The original Pimm’s No. 1 Cup was a closely guarded secret, with Pimm keeping the recipe under lock and key. Over time, the drink gained popularity, and Pimm’s began producing and selling the spirit to other establishments.
Eventually, the recipe was expanded to include a variety of “Pimm’s Cups,” each with a different base spirit, such as rum, brandy, or whisky. The Pimm’s No. 1 Cup, however, remained the most popular and enduring of the Pimm’s Cups, becoming a beloved staple at British summer events, from the Henley Royal Regatta to the Wimbledon tennis championships.
A Note on “Lemonade”
In the UK, lemonade is a carbonated fizzy drink, never flat. In the US, it’s flat. If you’re in the US or anywhere else where lemonade is fizzless, you can add soda water to some lemonade.
Or you can use a lemon or lemon-lime soda. Or ginger ale, which is in fact very good in this drink.
Serving and Garnishing
This drink is all about presentation, with the vibrant colors and fresh fruit garnishes playing a crucial role in the overall experience.
- Use tall, slender highball or collins glasses to showcase the layered colors and floating fruit.
- Fill the glasses to the top with ice cubes to ensure the drink stays chilled and refreshing.
- Arrange the fruit garnishes artfully, with a variety of sliced citrus, berries, and cucumber for a visually appealing display.
- Consider adding a sprig of fresh mint or a lemon wedge as a final touch.
- Serve the Pimm’s Cup with a stirring rod or spoon, allowing guests to gently stir the drink and enjoy the fruit as they sip.
Pimm’s Cup cocktail recipe
The key to a perfect Pimm's Cup is the balance between the botanical, herbal notes of the Pimm's No. 1 Cup and the bright, effervescent lemonade or ginger ale.
Ingredients
- 2 Pimm's No. 1 Cup
- 3 parts (fizzy) lemonade (or ginger ale)
- Sliced fruit (such as cucumber, strawberries, oranges, and mint)
- Several mint sprigs
- Ice cubes
Instructions
- Fill a large pitcher or punch bowl with ice cubes.
- Add the Pimm's No. 1 Cup.
- Top with the lemonade (or ginger ale) and stir gently to combine.
- Add the sliced fresh fruit and a few sprigs of mint.
- Serve the Pimm's Cup in highball or collins glasses, ensuring each glass contains a mix of the fruit garnishes.
Notes
In the US, lemonade is a flat beverage. In the UK, it's carbonated. You can mix flat lemonade with some sparkling water or soda water to make fizzy lemonade.
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