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This classic Pimm’s Cup recipe is layered with fresh fruit and cucumber and always tastes so refreshing!
Warm weather cocktail season has arrived and I vote we celebrate with a gorgeous fruit-filled Pimm’s Cup! ♡
If you don’t already have a bottle of Pimm’s No. 1 in your bar cart, I highly recommend picking up a bottle of this fruity, botanical, gin-based liqueur to make some refreshing cocktails this summer. It’s the starring ingredient in a Pimm’s Cup, a fruit-filled sparkling cocktail that’s famously the signature drink of Wimbledon, traditionally mixed with either lemon soda or ginger ale and then layered into a highball glass with a rainbow of fresh fruit and cucumber slices and herbs. It’s a showstopper of a drink that’s delicious, refreshing, not-too-strong, and incredibly easy to make. And if you happen to be serving a group, it’s easy to batch into a pitcher as well.
I’m partial to making Pimm’s Cups with a mix of freshly-squeezed lemon juice and a bold ginger ale (or ginger beer), in order to amp up the fresh lemon-ginger flavors in this drink, but you’re welcome to go the lemon soda route if ginger flavor isn’t your thing. And while this certainly isn’t traditional, I highly recommend enjoy muddling in a few slices of jalapeño if you enjoy an extra kick. Delicious!
However you choose to make your Pimm’s Cup, it’s certain to be a lovely and refreshing drink for summertime. So grab a bottle of Pimm’s and some colorful fruit and let’s make a cocktail together!
Pimm’s Cup Ingredients
Here are a few quick notes about the ingredients you will need to make a Pimm’s Cup drink:
Pimm’s No 1: This gin-based liqueur is infused with fruit, botanicals and spices to make a refreshing base for this drink.
Ginger ale: As mentioned above, Pimm’s Cup cocktails are traditionally either made with either lemon soda or a combination of lemon juice and ginger ale, the latter of which I prefer to add an extra layer of ginger flavor to the drink. I’m partial to Fever Tree or Q ginger ale, both of which have bolder ginger flavor. Or you can also opt for ginger beer, if you want an even spicier ginger flavor.
Lemon juice: The tart flavor of freshly-squeezed lemon juice helps to balance the sweetness of the ginger ale and fruit and make the drink taste extra refreshing.
Fresh fruit and cucumber: Thin slices of fruit and cucumber add sweet flavor and a lovely rainbow of colors to this drink! Strawberries, oranges, lemons, apples and cucumbers are often traditionally layered in, but feel free to use whatever fresh fruit slices that you prefer.
Fresh mint: Finally, a sprig of fresh mint or borage is the traditional garnish for this drink, which also adds a lovely hint of refreshing flavor and color to the drink.
Pimm’s Cup Variations
Here are a few different variations that you’re welcome to try with this Pimm’s Cup recipe:
Use ginger beer or lemon soda: Use ginger beer in place of the ginger ale for a stronger and spicier ginger flavor.
Make it spicy: Muddle some jalapeño slices into the drink.
Make it slushy: Freeze ginger beer ice cubes and blend the drink ingredients in a blender to make a frozen Pimm’s Cup slushie.
More Fruity Cocktails To Try
Looking for more fruit-forward cocktail recipes to try? Here are a few of our favorites:
