MIXOLOGY

PIMM’S CUP

BY COLBY JOHNSON

Similar to what a Mint Julep is to the Kentucky Derby, the Pimm’s Cup is to Wimbledon. And with the tournament right around the corner, what better way to celebrate than with the beverage most associated with the event? Since its beginnings in the middle of the 19th century, Pimms has been a British hot-weather favorite. With a refreshing gin flavor and an iced tea color, it’s a natural thirst-quencher. And at only 50 proof, it’s possible to sip throughout the day (or the match).

PIMM'S CHEATER

The ingredients of what makes Pimm’s is rumored to be a closely-held secret, which only six people know. Not surprisingly, there are many “Pimm’s Cheater”
recipes out there. Here’s one:
2 parts gin
2 parts rosso vermouth
1 part Orange Curacao liqueur
fill with 7-Up® soda
1 slice orange
1 slice lemon
1 slice cucumber
Mix. Pour into tall glass. Add ice-cold 7-Up or ginger ale. Garnish with one slice each of orange, lemon and cucumber. Serve.

According to CocktailTimes.com, the Pimm’s No. 1 Cup was created by a bartender named James Pimm at an oyster bar in London in 1840. He blended gin with quinine and various herbs, and the drink was initially served as a digestive tonic.

In 1859, Pimm began selling Pimm’s No. 1 commercially and the drink became a must-have concoction among the fashionable socialites of England. After WWII, Pimm’s brand added: No.2 (Scotch-based), No.3 (brandy-based), No. 4 (rum-based), No.5 (rye-based) and No.6 (vodka-based). However, today it is difficult to find these Pimm’s because only No. 1 and No. 6 are currently produced. There is a Winter Warmer version, which is also gin-based and available seasonally.

Stateside, the Pimm’s Cup is most often associated with the famed Napoleon House in New Orleans. The 200-year-old landmark in the French Quarter was first occupied by Nicholas Girod, the mayor of New Orleans from 1812 to 1815. He offered his residence to Napoleon in 1821 as a refuge during his exile. And though Napoleon never made it, the name stuck. Since then, the Napoleon House has become one of the most famous bars in America, a haunt for artists and writers throughout most of the 20th century. Owned and operated by the Impastato family since 1914, it’s a place where you can hear Beethoven’s Eroiqua, which he composed for Napoleon, and the music of other classical masters, while sipping the drink most associated with the bar, a Pimm’s Cup, and basking in an ambiance that could only be New Orleans

And it’s hard to argue with those who believe the best gimlet is made with freshly squeezed limes. I’ve always preferred mine this way: Take a highball glass and fill it with ice, add two shots of gin and top with Rose’s. Of course, make yours to taste. It’s your cocktail, after all.

How to Make a Pimm's Cup:

1 1/4 ounces Pimm’s No. 1
3 ounces lemonade
7–Up
Slice of cucumber
Fill a tall 12-ounce glass with ice and add Pimm’s No. 1 and 3 ounces lemonade.
Then top off with 7–Up
Garnish with cucumber.

Variation: If you want to add a luxurious twist to the traditional Pimm’s Cup, try a “Pimm’s Royal.” Simply substitute the ginger ale or 7-Up (Sprite) for champagne or a good dry sparkling wine.

The fixins'

Though a Pimm’s Cup is very simple to make, the real artistry comes through with the many possible garnishes. Reminiscent of a Bloody Mary with its limitless accessorizing possibilities, the Pimm’s Cup has been known to be garnished with borage leaves, mint leaves, and slices of lemon, orange, strawberry, and apple.

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