May 30th, 2006

Pimm’s Cup

Posted by The Home Bartender in Liqueur Drinks, Mixed Drinks, Drink of the Season, Punches

One of the most refreshing warm-weather drinks I can imagine in Pimm’s Cup. Pimm’s No. 1 is an herbal-infused gin spirit, but it tastes nothing like gin, nor is it overly herbally or bitter. The closest relative to flavor I can point to would be angostura bitters – clove-y and slightly sweet. Made in England and long associated with the upper class there, it used to be produced in eight varieties, each with a different base spirit, but now is made in three, only one of which is distributed in any quality: the traditional Pimm’s No.1, consumed almost strictly in the simple, exquisite Pimm’s Cup.

Pimm’s Cup is merely Pimm’s No.1, lemon soda, citrus and cucumber slices. British “lemonade” is traditional, but since I can’t find a reasonably priced brand of the stuff here, I use Sprite, whose blandness works well against the liqueur. Originally a punch, it works equally well as a highball, the recipe for which follows. Equally suited for a picnic along the Charles as it is for punting on the Thames.

Pimm’s No. 1 Cup
Sprite or other lemon soda
Citrus slices (always lemon, lime and orange optional)
Couple cucumber slices
Mint spring, optional

Fill highball glass with ice. Fill a third the way with Pimm’s, top with Sprite and add garnishes. Stir briefly.

6 Responses to ' Pimm’s Cup '

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  1. Mike said,
    on May 30th, 2006 at 10:20 am

    Where can you pick up Pimm’s in Boston?

  2. Rick said,
    on May 30th, 2006 at 6:43 pm

    Chris,

    I wonder if a bitter lemon soda would work… I know Canada Dry makes one that is readily available.

    I had little interest in Pimm’s No.1 until reading this, mostly due to the lack of versatility. What other drinks can you make with the stuff?

  3. Chris said,
    on May 31st, 2006 at 1:26 pm

    Mike - Pimm’s isn’t too hard to find. Martignetti’s and Blanchards both carry it, as does (I think) the spirits shop on Charles Street at the bottom of Beacon Hill.

    Rick - I’ll give bitter lemon a try when I next come across a bottle (it’s not easy to find in Boston), but I suspect it may be too bitter for the spirit. But who knows? I’m sure a good imagination can come up with another drink using Pimm’s, but I don’t think there’s anything remotely traditional to use it in besides the Pimms cup. Sounds like a project for an Mixology Monday, Advanced Edition!

  4. Jonathan Arnold said,
    on June 1st, 2006 at 8:00 am

    Yeah, Pimm’s isn’t too hard to find in the Boston area - pretty much any larger liquor store will carry it, although actually figuring out where they shelve it can be a different matter. Heck, my nearby Stop & Shop in Malden, which has a liquor section, even carries it.

    As for other Pimm’s recipes, I posted one from a cocktail book here:

    http://jiggle.anaze.us/archives/2006/03/cocktails_of_the_week_pim.html

    The Pimm’s Reef wasn’t too bad.

  5. Aces Full of Links said,
    on June 2nd, 2006 at 1:12 pm

    It’s Hot Out There For A Pimm’s

    After multiple urgings from Patti, I finally broke down and tried Pimm’s No. 1 Cup. It was very satisfying! Here’s how I made it. Very simply: * Glass of ice * 1 shot of Pimm’s, poured over the ice. *…

  6. Jon Danzak said,
    on June 4th, 2006 at 1:42 pm

    My favorite PIMS drink was one that was published on the bottle. Roughly it’s:

    In a tall glass filled with ice and garnished with slices of cucumber and oranges pour:

    - 2 oz Gin
    - 2 oz Pimms
    - top with 4-6 oz gingerale
    - gently mix to blend

    Wonderful and refreshing!

    Jon J. Danzak
    jjjjdd_pgh@yahoo.com

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