Easy to Make Cocktails: The Pimms Cup Cocktail Recipe

Watching Wimbledon is a summer tradition. And if you really want to get into the tennis mood, there’s no better way to celebrate the championship than with a Pimm’s Cup cocktail.

This classic Pimm’s Cup British drink recipe is a must while watching Wimbledon. But it’s also a deliciously refreshing drink to enjoy all summer long.

The drink became a popular option among tennis fans in Britain thanks to some clever branding. The original Pimm’s Cup cocktail was served in a tankard called the No. 1 cup, giving the cocktail and the signature liqueur it’s made with its name.

The Pimm’s Cup cocktail gained popularity in Britain after being served at prestigious events, like the Chelsea Flower Show and the Henley Royal Regatta. After that, the popularity spread until a Pimm’s bar was set up at the 1971 Wimbledon tournament. Since then, the drink has been a staple at the tennis tournament, where more than 300,000 glasses of the cocktail are served every year.

What You’ll Need to Make This Pimm’s Cup Cocktail:

• 2 ounces Pimm’s No. 1
• 1/2 ounce lemon juice, freshly squeezed
• Ginger ale

In addition to the main cocktail ingredients, you can also add some garnish to your drink, like a cucumber slice, mint sprig, and strawberries.

How to Make a Pimm’s Cup:

Step One:

• Add Pimm’s No. 1 and lemon juice into a highball glass over ice.

Step Two:

• Top with ginger ale and stir briefly to combine.

Step Three:

• Garnish with a cucumber slice, mint sprig, and strawberry.

What Kind of Liquor is Pimm’s?

The liquor used to make this Pimm’s Cup cocktail is a gin-based liqueur made up of a secret blend of gin, quinine, and spices.

The drink originated in a 19^th century London bar owned by James Pimm. He originally developed the spiced liqueur to help aid digestion. And while the recipe has changed over time, the roots of the drink remain the same.

This quintessentially British beverage has remained a popular choice during the summer months thanks to its unique flavor profile.

What Do the Numbers on Pimm’s Mean?

Pimm’s liquor concoction became so popular in London, that he began mass producing it and selling it by the bottle. And once the gin version took off, he started creating different liquor varieties, marking his original recipe as No. 1.

While the gin version remained the most popular, two other varieties have stuck around over the years – Pimm’s No. 3, which is made with brandy and is now known as Pimm’s Winter, and Pimm’s No. 6, which is made with vodka and only available in Britain.

What Does Pimm’s Cup Taste Like?

Like most gin-based drinks, Pimm’s No. 1 has a slightly bitter taste to it. But that bitterness is complemented by the lemon and ginger ale to create a mild, fruity taste to the cocktail.

Thanks to its secret blend of spices, Pimm’s adds a spiced apple flavor to the cocktail that gives it a unique flavor all its own.

Tips and Tricks

One of the best parts about this quick and easy cocktail is that it can be changed and adapted to suit your preferences. Try these recipe variations and tips to create a delicious summer drink to enjoy while watching Wimbledon.

• Increase the recipe for a party. This simple recipe is perfect for a Wimbledon watch party because all you need to do is increase the quantity of ingredients. You can mix up all the ingredients in a large pitcher and serve over ice for a delicious cocktail all your guests can enjoy at your event.
• Use different sodas. While ginger ale is the most popular soda to add to this easy cocktail, you can swap it out for a variety of different options. Lemon-lime soda, like 7UP or Sprite, is a popular option for adding a little more citrus flavor to the drink. Or up the alcohol content of this liqueur-based drink by mixing in ginger beer instead of ginger ale.
• Skip the soda. Another popular way of serving this Pimm’s Cup drink is to skip the soda altogether. Instead, mix your Pimm’s No. 1 with sparkling lemonade to create a simple recipe to make it a two-ingredient drink. After you’ve mixed the two ingredients together, add your garnish and serve!
• Add some sugar. If you find that your Pimm’s Cup is too bitter for your taste, try mixing in a small amount of sugar. A half to full teaspoon of sugar can enhance the flavor and decrease the bitterness of the liqueur and lemon, giving you a smooth drink for a hot summer day.
• Garnish with fresh fruit. Adding some fresh fruit is another way to sweeten your drink and enhance the flavor of the cocktail’s ingredients. Citrus garnish, like lemon, lime, or orange slices, can add more acidity to your drink. And apple slices can help develop the apple notes of the Pimm’s.

Other Cocktails to Try:

• Blueberry Buck
• The Bee’s Knee’s, a prohibition-era cocktail
• Scarlett O’Hara Cocktail Punch

How to Make this Pimm’s Cup Cocktail Drink: