A Perfect Pimm’s No. 1 Cup- A Delightful Summer Sipper

Pimm’s #1 is an English gin based alcohol, that, when mixed with  7-up (the closet thing we have to their ‘lemonade’) and garnished with various fruits such as strawberries, cucumbers, orange slices and lemon peels with sprigs of mint, transforms into a cocktail called a Pimm’s Cup.  It’s so light, fruity and refreshing. A perfect drink on a hot summer’s day.  And I love it! It’s my tipple of choice!

When I first saw it being served at the Cambridge Folk Festival, I thought it was Sangria, because of all the fruit they had packed into the glasses and pitchers. But this slightly spicy and fruity beverage is much lighter in color and is rather low in alcohol content making it the perfect drink to have when you are having more than one, which is probably why it’s the traditional drink of Wimbledon. Can’t have the fans become too rowdy at a tennis match! (Leave that to the players!) Anywho…

Here’s my first Pimm’s Cup at the folk festival. They served it with a sparkly stick which I used to spear the fruit from the bottom with. Yum!

I bought a large bottle of Pimm’s No.1 at the grocery store in Cambridge and thankfully, it made it home in one piece, safely bubble wrapped and wedged between clothes and cans of foie gras coffee from Paris (shhh!). So I will be making more of these delightful cocktails for the rest of the summer or until my bottle runs dry. Whichever comes first.

Here’s some I made today. I used a lot of fruit.  Next time I will try it with Ginger Ale. But the color matches exactly to the original one I had.

Here is the final version. Full of fruit and mint. Light and refreshing. They go down easy. Maybe too easy.

 

Now make your own:

The Original Pimm’s Cup

In a tall glass over ice, mix 1 part Pimm’s No.1 with 3 parts 7-up

Add

• 2 lemon peel slices
• 1 slice of orange
• 2 fresh strawberries, halved
• 2 cucumber slices
• 1 large sprig of mint

Give a stir and serve.

To make a Pimm’s Royale, replace the 7-up with Cava, Champagne or Prosecco and omit all the fruit except the strawberries. Leave out the ice and serve in a champagne glass and you have a brunch cocktail to rival a mimosa.

Cheers!