Pimm’s Cup

The most iconic sports events all have a signature drink. The Kentucky Derby has the mint julep, the Masters has the Azalea cocktail and Wimbledon—England’s Grand Slam tennis tournament—has the Pimm’s Cup. But you don’t have to be a tennis fanatic to serve that last one. The Pimm’s Cup has been a well-known drink in England and the United States since the 1800s.

The star ingredient of a Pimm’s Cup cocktail is its namesake liqueur: Pimm’s No. 1, an aromatic and colorful herbal spirit. It’s blended with lemon and ginger ale to make a mixed drink that’s not too strong and refreshing on warm, summer days.

What is Pimm’s No. 1?

The exact blend of ingredients in this 200-year-old English liqueur is a closely-guarded secret. It was created by James Pimm, who originally served it at his restaurants to aid in the digestion of oysters.

Pimm’s No. 1 is a gin-based liqueur with flavors of citrus, juniper and quinine (the bitter ingredient in tonic water) plus strong spices. The reddish-amber color and bitter notes are reminiscent of amari or cocktail bitters, but Pimm’s also has some sweetness. The alcohol content is 25%, on the low side compared to similar liqueurs.

The Pimm’s company tried to capitalize on the success of Pimm’s No. 1 with other liqueurs over several decades, including Pimm’s No. 2 through Pimm’s No. 6. They were made with other spirits including vodka, brandy, Scotch and rum. Most of these were discontinued, although limited-edition runs (with names like Vodka Cup or No. 3 Winter) make an occasional appearance, much to the delight of Pimm’s devotees.

Pimm’s Cup Ingredients

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• Pimm’s No. 1 liqueur: This tall bottle has a white label with dark-red liqueur inside. Look for it stocked at liquor stores with other herbal liqueurs or possibly with English gins.
• Lemon juice: Make the best-tasting Pimm’s Cup possible with freshly squeezed lemon juice. (Psst: Did you know you can juice lemons without cutting them? Use a skewer or chopstick to poke a hole in one end of the lemon and squeeze away. It even keeps all the seeds inside!)
• Ginger ale: Choose a good-quality brand of ginger ale, like Schweppes or Q Mixers.
• Fresh garnishes: The traditional fresh garnishes for this drink include cucumber slices, strawberries and mint leaves. Not only are they visually attractive, but their fragrance and flavor play off the botanicals in the Pimm’s.

Directions

Step 1: Prep the shaker

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Fill a cocktail shaker half full with ice. Add the Pimm’s and lemon juice.

Editor’s Tip: Pick up a special cocktail ice cube tray for large ice that melts more slowly and doesn’t water down drinks.

Step 2: Build the drink

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Cover and shake the cocktail for 10 to 15 seconds until it’s completely chilled. You’ll know it’s ready when frosty condensation forms on the outside of the shaker.

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Fill a rocks glass with ice, then strain the Pimm’s mixture over the ice.

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Top the drink off with ginger ale.

Step 3: Garnish the cocktail

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Slide slices of strawberry and cucumber and the mint leaves into the drink, or make cuts in them and position them on the rim of the glass. Serve your Pimm’s Cup immediately.

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Pimm’s Cup Variations

• Serve it in a Collins glass: Add ice to a tall Collins glass, then arrange sliced strawberries, long ribbons of cucumber and mint leaves around the inside of the glass. Add the Pimm’s-lemon mixture and ginger ale. With the garnishes in full view, this tall version is especially striking.
• Use a different soda: Instead of ginger ale, make Pimm’s Cup even more citrusy with a lemon-lime soda like Sprite or 7-Up.
• Make a frozen Pimm’s Cup: Pour the Pimm’s, lemon juice and ginger ale into a blender along with crushed ice. Process the ingredients until you have a thick, slushy, frozen mixture. Pour the frozen Pimm’s Cup into a chilled glass and garnish it.
• Create pretty ice cubes: Instead of adding garnishes to the glass, freeze small slices of strawberry, cucumber and mint inside ice cubes.
• Make a big batch: Multiply the ingredients for this one-serving drink for as many people as you need. Pour the Pimm’s and lemon juice into a pitcher and chill them in the fridge. When your guests arrive, add ice, ginger ale, mint leaves, cucumbers and strawberry slices to the pitcher and serve the cocktails.

How to Store Pimm’s Cup

With fizzy ginger ale and fresh garnishes, Pimm’s Cup should be enjoyed immediately. If you find you have some of this cocktail left over and want to save it, remove the ice and fresh garnishes and transfer the drink to a covered container. Keep it in the fridge for up to four days.

Can you make Pimm’s Cup ahead of time?

While Pimm’s Cup shouldn’t be made ahead of time, you can do one step in advance: blend Pimm’s No. 1 with lemon juice. Store this mixture in the fridge for up to four days. Because the liqueur is already chilled, you won’t need to use a cocktail shaker. Wait to add the ginger ale and fresh garnishes until you’re ready to serve the drink.

Pimm’s Cup Tips

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What other garnishes can I add to a Pimm’s Cup?

Other pretty and fresh garnishes to try with this cocktail are lemon slices, orange slices and basil leaves. Try adding a couple of blueberries or raspberries to the glass. And don’t forget about edible flowers like pansies and borage, which add so much charm when floating on top of a Pimm’s Cup.

What should I serve with a Pimm’s Cup?

Serve this cocktail alongside a platter of fresh, chilled oysters on the half-shell—after all, that’s the pairing that James Pimm envisioned when he invented Pimm’s No. 1! At Wimbledon, Pimm’s Cups are served with the tournament’s signature dessert, strawberries and cream. The light and refreshing flavor of Pimm’s Cup also goes well with fresh fruit skewers and light appetizers like a cheese board or cucumber sandwiches.