Pimm’s Cup Cocktail

The quintessential slow-slurping summer fruit cup, the Pimm’s Cup is a bubbly concoction of fruit, liqueurs and spices paired with sodas like sparkling lemonade or ginger beer. It is a thirst-quenching, cooling, life-affirming digestif.

The History of the Pimm’s Cup

The shellfish monger and oyster bar restaurateur (an oyster farmer, if you will) James Pimm is credited with creating this most British of summer drinks. They opened their oyster houses in 1840s London and soon became famous for the ‘House Cup’, a gin sling based on Pimm’s own patented recipe for the gin-based, fruity and spiced liquor.

Over time, Pimm produced cups based on brandy, rum, rye, scotch and even vodka – there are seemingly endless varieties of fruit cups – but it didn’t take long for the Pimm’s Cup to emerge the quintessential blend.

It would be another 80 years before the drink was printed in Lucius Beebes 1946 The Stork Club cash bookbut it was soon adopted by the Napoleon House in New Orleans and became the signature cocktail of Wimbledon, where it is served by the pitcher.

What is Pimm’s #1?

Pimm’s No. 1 is a refreshingly tart aperitif with the taste of spiced fruits. It’s still made using Pimm’s original secret recipe and is virtually irreplaceable.

So what’s in the #1? The gin-based liqueur is deep red in color and flavored with bitter caramelized orange, botanicals and a mysterious combination of spices. Like other bottled fruit cups, it’s a low alcohol (only 25% ABV) pre-mixed punch liqueur to which you would add a ginger beer or lemonade.

As a hack, lark or just to increase power, You can make your own #1 mug by combining equal parts dry gin, curacao, and sweet vermouth, and adding a dash or two of angostura or other aromatic bitters.

Ginger beer or lemon soda?

The fizz of a lemonade is the backbone of the Pimm’s Cup, but how you answer this question will probably say a lot about you, although you shouldn’t sweat the question:

• lemonade makes the fruit cup a slightly more acidic, but still quite refreshing, summery cooler.
• Ginger ale-or its typically less flavorful sibling ginger ale– complements the spiciness of the fruit and gives the drink some backbone.

No judgment on the sodas, but you have a much more interesting and vibrant drink with that ginger-spicy finish.

Great ginger beer for a Pimm’s Cup?

Usually you want a ginger Beer rather than a ginger ale, the former being typically drier, a little spicier, and less sweet, although “beer” and “ale” can be very different in meaning. If you get too sweet, many (but not all) ginger ales are, and it will upset the balance of the drink and waste an opportunity to pit good ginger flavor against the fruit.

Here are three great ginger beers to try:

1. Bundaberg with natural cane sugar and real ginger root is a good choice.
2. Likewise Fever-Tree with three types of ginger – from Cochin, the Ivory Coast and Nigeria. These give it a warm depth above its aerated spring water.
3. Thomas Henry ginger ale would do you just fine, too.

My favorite Pimm’s Cup recipe

This recipe makes the pickle stand out by including it in both the mix and the presentation, and opts for a dry ginger ale over a lemonade or bitter lemon soda. Instead of the ginger ale, you can substitute champagne.

More Easy Breezy Cocktails

• Aperole Spritz
• Mojito Cocktail
• Sparkling strawberry sangria
• Frozen siesta cocktail
• Hibiscus Spritz