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:
Pimm's Cup
Ingredients
- 2 ounces Pimm’s No. 1
- 1/2 ounce freshly-squeezed lemon juice
- 6 ounces ginger ale
- sliced fruit and veggies (such as strawberries, oranges, lemons, limes, cucumber)
- ice
- fresh mint, for garnish
Instructions
- Mix. Layer the sliced fruit and veggies with ice in a highball glass. Add the Pimm’s No 1, lemon juice and ginger ale, and stir briefly to combine.
- Serve. Garnish with fresh mint and enjoy!
Did you make this?Let me know how it turned out in the comments below!
I muddle the cucumbers in the bottom to bring out the cucumber flavor
Try Pimm’s Cup with Mr, Q Cumber soda. Exceptionally easy and delicious.
I made Pimms Cup for a friend and I this week and it is a definite HIT. We really enjoyed it and enjoyed it again the following afternoon before dinner. Thanks for another great recipe. If you hadn’t posted it I wouldn’t have made it.
I have been drinking Pimm’s since we discovered it many years ago in the UK. Fever-Tree is definitely
the best mixer. I never thought to make a slushy, so once the hot weather is here, I’ll have to try it.
Cheers!