Pimm’s Cup: It’s Time to Gather Your Ingredients

The Wimbledon Championships get underway this Monday, July 1. That means it is time to make final preparations for the tournament. This weekend’s post describes a great way to enhance your remote viewing experience during the fortnight.

Specifically, it is time to gather all the ingredients to make a Pimm’s Cup, Wimbledon’s signature cocktail. If you scored tickets and are traveling to the tournament this year, enjoying the beverage is an essential part of the experience. Those of us at home will be treated to many images of the brown-tinted drink poured from a pitcher. A Pimm’s Cup is a ubiquitous part of the picturesque scenery.

Pimm’s is a British brand of gin-based liqueur. The ingredients and process are a “closely guarded secret.” However, it is widely believed to include carmelized oranges and herbs. At Wimbledon, Pimm’s is used to make a drink known as a fruit cup or a summer cup, which is popular in England. That cocktail consists of a liqueur combined with soda, lemonade, or ginger ale. It is traditionally served in a tall glass.

Many “authentic” Wimbledon Pimm’s Cup recipes abound on the internet. I make mine using a 3-1 ratio of ginger ale to liqueur, garnished with cucumbers, orange slices, and mint. If I have strawberries on hand, I think that is a nice addition, but the recipe doesn’t call for that.

• 2 oz Pimm’s No 1 Cup Liqueur
• 6 oz Ginger Ale
• Cucumber Slice
• Orange Slice
• Mint

Muddle a few mint leaves in the bottom of the cup, and add the cucumber and orange slices. Add the Pimm’s and then the ice. Pour the ginger ale over the ice and rub an additional mint leaf around the rim and add to the top of the cup.

“Authentic” Fiend at Court Pimm’s No 1 Cup Recipe

Mint is essential, as it offsets the bitterness of the herbs in the Pimm’s No 1 Liqueur. In fact, I forgot to include the mint on my first attempt at the cocktail and initially did not like the beverage at all without it. I can personally attest that the drink is significantly better when the mint is included.

Some online descriptions claim that a Pimm’s Cup tastes like summer. The herbal nature of the liqueur certainly pairs well with the aroma of fresh-cut grass, making it easy to see how the cocktail became the quintessential Wimbledon.

As we gather around our screens to take in the excitement of Wimbledon, there is no better way to enhance the experience than by sipping a refreshing Pimm’s Cup. It is the perfect accompaniment to an afternoon of tennis viewing. Gather your ingredients and get ready to toast the spirit of Wimbledon from the comfort of your home.