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Cocktail History
The Pimm’s Cup is a classic cocktail that was created by James Pimm in the 1800s at his oyster bar in London, England. Based on another recipe called the Summer Cup, it’s traditionally made with lemon juice, simple syrup, bitters, soda water, and Pimm’s No. 1 Liqueur, a unique spirit invented by Pimm himself, and is adorned with cucumbers, fresh fruit, and mint. Over time, it became a staple at bars in the spring and summer and was eventually named the official cocktail of the Wimbledon tennis tournament.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Soda Water: This is a type of water that has been infused with carbon dioxide gas under pressure. I used Topo Chico Sparkling Mineral Water.
Pimm’s No. 1 Liqueur: This is a liqueur made in England with herbs, spices, caramelized oranges, and alcohol.
Lemon Juice: This is the liquid juice of a lemon. I used freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Simple Syrup: This is a sweetener made with white sugar and water. I made mine using this stovetop recipe.
Aromatic Bitters: This is a food product made with botanicals, herbs, and alcohol. I used Angostura Aromatic Bitters.
Cucumber Ribbon: This is a cucumber slice that has been thinly cut into a strip.
Mint Sprig: This is an herb. I used Mojito mint.
Lemon Slice: This is a slice of lemon that has been cut into a half wheel shape.
Strawberries: This a small red fruit that is soft and juicy and has yellow seeds on its skin.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. I used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.
Juicer: This is used to juice citrus. I used the ALEEHAI Manual Fruit Juicer.
Peeler: This is used to cut the cucumber into strips. I used the OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Peeler Set.
Tweezers: This is used to place the garnish on the drink. I used one from the Stainless Steel Food Tweezers Set.
Cocktail Pick: This is used to hold the garnish. I used one from the I-MART Stainless Steel Cocktail Pick Set.
Tasting Notes
This cocktail has the following flavor profile:
• Appearance: Orange-brown color
• Aroma: Mint, citrus, and berry
• Taste: Sharp and light soda water flavor accented with cucumber, citrus, and spices
• Finish: Unique herbal notes
Kendall’s Take: “I can see why the Pimm’s Cup is considered to be the perfect garden party drink. It’s flavorful and very unique, almost with a slight bitterness, and it’s fairly low in alcohol content, so it’s great for daytime sipping. I really, really liked it and quickly added it to my list of favorite cocktails.”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from The Essential Cocktail Book: A Complete Guide to Modern Drinks by the editors of PUNCH and Megan Krigbaum.
Pimm’s Cup
Description
The Pimm’s Cup is a classic cocktail that was created by James Pimm in the 1800s at his oyster bar in London, England. Based on another recipe called the Summer Cup, it’s traditionally made with lemon juice, simple syrup, bitters, soda water, and Pimm’s No. 1 Liqueur, a unique spirit invented by Pimm himself, and is adorned with cucumbers, fresh fruit, and mint. Over time, it became a staple at bars in the spring and summer and was eventually named the official cocktail of the Wimbledon tennis tournament.
Ingredients
Method
Fill a highball glass with cracked ice.
Add Pimm's No. 1 Liqueur, lemon juice, and simple syrup to highball glass.
Top with soda water and bitters.
Using a bar spoon, gently stir for 3-5 seconds.
Using tongs or large tweezers, position cucumber slice around the ice inside the highball glass.
Garnish with mint, lemon wedge, and strawberry.
