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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:
Pimm’s No. 1 Liqueur: This is a liqueur made in England with herbs, spices, caramelized oranges, and alcohol. For a mocktail version of this drink, try homemade Pimm’s No. 1 liqueur in place of the Pimm’s No. 1 liqueur.
Lemon Juice: This is the liquid juice of a lemon. We used freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Simple Syrup: This is a sweetener made with white sugar and water. We made ours at home using Alex’s stovetop recipe.
Soda Water: This is a type of water that has been infused with carbon dioxide gas under pressure. We used Topo Chico Sparkling Mineral Water because it’s light, essentially flavorless, and refreshing.
Aromatic Bitters: This is a food product made with botanicals, herbs, and alcohol. We used Angostura Aromatic Bitters. For a mocktail version of this drink, try All The Bitter Alcohol-Free Aromatic Bitters in place of the aromatic bitters.
Cucumber Ribbon: This is a cucumber slice that has been thinly cut into a strip.
Mint Sprig: This is an herb. We 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. We used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. We used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.
Juicer: This is used to juice citrus. We used the ALEEHAI Manual Fruit Juicer.
Peeler: This is used to cut the cucumber into strips. We used the OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Peeler Set.
Tweezers: This is used to place the garnish on the drink. We used one from the Stainless Steel Food Tweezers Set.
Cocktail Pick: This is used to hold the garnish. We used one from the I-MART Stainless Steel Cocktail Pick Set.
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Tasting Notes
The Pimm’s Cup features an aromatic bouquet of mint, lemon, and strawberry followed by the sharp kick of soda water, accented with cucumber, and chased down with the unique herbal bitterness of the Pimm’s No 1 Liqueur.
Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: As Kendall described it before ordering another, the Pimm’s Cup is really the perfect garden party drink, and its reputation as such is well-founded. This is a new favorite of both of ours that we’ll for sure be making again.
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.
This post contains affiliate links, meaning we make a small commission each time you purchase a product using our links. Product images sourced from Amazon Product Advertising API. Amazon affiliate links last updated on 2024-10-14.
Pimm’s Cup
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
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Add Pimm's No. 1 Liqueur, lemon juice, and simple syrup to a highball glass.
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Stir for 3-5 seconds.
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Add cracked ice.
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Top with soda water and bitters.
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Stir for 3-5 more seconds.
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Position cucumber slice around the outside of the ice in the glass.
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Garnish with mint, lemon wedge, and strawberry.
