Pimm's Cup

Pimm's Cup might be the signature summer cocktail of Wimbledon, but its refreshing qualities and effortless nature are likely to make it your go-to, at-home cocktail all summer long. There's nothing crazy or difficult about this recipe. You don't even need a cocktail shaker -- how easy is that?!

In fact, it is probably one of the most simple cocktails you will ever make at home. It comes together with just a few simple ingredients: Pimm's Gin liqueur, fresh lemon juice, and something bubbly to top it off. You'll most often find the glass full of an assortment of fresh fruit, making it extra appealing to the eyes, but we'll get to that later.

First, let's talk about exactly what this Pimm's stuff is and why it works so well with all of the ingredients listed above. 

WHAT IS PIMMS AND HOW IT BEGAN

Pimm's is a gin-based liqueur flavored with fruits and spices, and boasting some seriously delicious herbal notes. It's fairly sweet and pret-ty easy to sip. The liqueur was created by James Pimm, a 19th-century London oyster bar owner.

This beverage was originally served as a digestive aid and consisted of gin, tonic water spiked with quinine (a flavor component often used for tonic water, which added a bitter lemon flavor to drinks), along with his own special spice mixture. 

Thinking through these ingredients, we can easily see that today's Pimm's Cup has not strayed too far from its origins. 

This cocktail has evolved into an iconic British tradition and is served at Wimbledon, and Royal Ascot; it can be easily found at just about any social event across the U.K.

HOW TO MAKE A CLASSIC PIMM'S CUP

You'll start with a tall glass, about 16 ounces, also known as a Collins class. Fill it with ice to your liking, and add Pimm's Liqueur; anywhere from 1 to 2 ounces of Pimm's will work. 

Once you've got your liqueur in the glass, add in the juice of half a lemon. Freshly squeezed lemon juice is a must in this cocktail and a total flavor game changer. A citrus squeezer will not only make it extra easy to get the juice out and avoid lemon seeds from falling into your cocktail, but it will also help you make the most of your lemon. 

Now, onto the "something bubbly". This can vary from ginger ale to sparkling lemonade, lemon-lime soda, or ginger beer. Any of these options will work, although some are quite a bit sweeter than others. 

Gingerale is probably the most common bubbly topper for a classic Pimm's Cup, but if you love lemon with your whole heart and you don't mind your drinks on the sweet side, you might like the sparkling lemonade or lemon-lime soda route best. If you like your cocktails on the dryer side, ginger beer is definitely the way to go.

Top with ginger ale (or your sparkling beverage of choice), and take care not to fill your glass all the way to the brim. You'll need to leave some room for the fruit! Stir to combine, and grab your cutting board. 

In comes the fresh fruit. I would have to say cucumber slices are pretty essential when it comes to this cocktail recipe, but as for the rest, anything tart, slightly sweet, and citrusy will work -- pick your favorites!

Here are a few ideas for fresh fruit you can use to amp up your Pimm's Cup cocktail:

• Cucumbers
• Strawberries
• Lemons
• Oranges

Once your fruit is sliced and ready to go, add them to your glass. For a gorgeous layered look, use a straw or bar spoon to push your first few fruit slice additions toward the bottom of the glass, so you can stack more on top of it.

Finish off your Pimms Cup with a mint sprig, serve, and enjoy! 

For more easy and crowd-pleasing cocktails, try our Vodka Mojito and Frozen Margarita.

PIMM'S CUP PITCHER

If you're making Pimms Cup for a crowd, grab yourself a large pitcher and fill it about a third of the way up with your sliced fruit of choice. 

Then, add:

• 2 ½ cups of Pimm's,
• the juice of 5 lemons,
• and, 5 cups of ginger ale (or something sparkly).

Stir together and serve over ice!

And speaking of serving a crowd, if you're ever hosting a breakfast or brunch, our Bloody Mary Bar is the way to go.

6 MORE FRUITY COCKTAILS YOU’LL LOVE

• White Wine Sangria
• Blueberry Cocktail
• Pineapple Mojito
• Pineapple Margarita
• Skinny Margarita
• Pomegranate Martini

• 

  White Wine Sangria

• 

  Blueberry Cocktail Recipe

• 

  Pineapple Mojito

• 

  Pineapple Margaritas | SO EASY To Make At Home!

• 

  Skinny Margaritas (Less Sugar AND Less Calories!)

• 

  Pomegranate Martini

 

Source: Town and Country Magazine