Pimm’s Cup
Most bars seem to have a dusty bottle of “Pimm’s No. 1” sitting on their shelf someplace, but rarely do I see any of them actually use it here in the US. One problem, is that there are very few drinks that use it, the Pimm’s Cup however is not only the most common, but also a wonderful one to boot.
First, let’s cover what a “Cup” actually is. Back in the days when the drink known as the Cocktail was still a young whipper-snapper, there were a broad selection of drink categories that folks could choose from. Cobbler, Cooler, Daisy, Fix, Fizz, Fip, Mull, Punch, Rickey, Shrub, among others, and a drink known as a “Cup”. A Cup would be made from wine, spirit, water, sugar, spices, and fruit; macerated together and then served “punch style” by the cup from a large bowl.
It was in the 1840’s that James Pimm, the owner of a London oyster bar, first invented the “Pimms Cup”, which he would mix up in batches to serve his customers. Sometimes he would serve it straight, and sometimes he would add a carbonated beverage to brighten it up a bit. Schweppes Lemonade (similar to 7UP and Sprite) was one of the first carbonated beverages, having come onto the scene in 1835, and so was what was often reached for. Later, Ginger Ale would also be used. The original product became known as “Pimm’s No.1”, and was soon being bottled and marketed across England. Eventually this evolved into Pimm’s No. 2 through No. 6, each one using a different base spirit (Scotch, brandy, rum, rye, and vodka). Eventually Pimm’s 2 through 5 were phased out, leaving just their original No. 1 (gin) and No. 6 (vodka). Just recently, Pimm’s relaunched Pimm’s No.3 as “Pimm’s Winter”, and as the name implies is distributed specifically during Winter (and apparently only in the UK).
Pimm’s Cup
- 2 oz. Pimm’s No. 1
- 4 oz. Lemon-Lime Soda, or Ginger Ale
Pour the Pimm’s into an ice filled highball glass. Top with soda. Garnish with fruits or berries in season, or a long thin slice of cucumber and a lemon wedge.
You will often see recipes for the Pimm’s Cup calling for “Lemonade”, and here in the US you might find bars that take this to heart and use lemonade (or sour mix) in its construction. However this is simply a misinterpretation of the English recipe, since in England they refer to lemon-lime soda as “lemonade” since their “Schweppes Lemonade“ was the forerunner of our modern lemon-lime soda.
Pimm’s No. 1 is a 50 proof product (25% alcohol), making it fairly low in alcohol compared to a spirit (which is normally around 80 proof), and yet you are essentially using as much Pimm’s in this drink as you would normally use of a spirit. This makes a Pimm’s cup a wonderful drink to have when all you are looking for is a light and refreshing beverage. I also recommend a Pimm’s cup to people who like Long Island Ice Tea, since the Pimm’s Cup is fairly similar in overall flavor, just a little more complex.
(You might also want to read Rosanne’s article on “Picnic British Style with Pimm’s Cup“)
Thanks for the excellent and concise dissertation on Pimm’s. It has been a favorite of mine since my semi-English college roommate introduced it to me many years ago. It is indeed hard to get it done right in a bar. I just enjoy it at home, especially this time of year.