Pimm’s No 1 (English Cocktail Recipe)

Pimm’s No 1 is a quintessential English liqueur used to make a Pimm’s Cup traditionally served during Wimbledon’s tennis tournament. I describe it as an English sangria. It pairs well with strawberries and cream which are also served during Wimbledon.

Originally published June 16, 2014

Would you like to watch Wimbledon the way they do in London? Then you’ll need a bottle of Pimm’s No 1!

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Read on, as all you need is a bottle of Pimm’s No. 1 Cup, white wine, some fruit, and soda for the most refreshing English cocktail going!

What is Pimm’s No 1?

Pimm’s Cup Original Recipe

The original Pimm’s Cup recipe doesn’t use the liqueur to macerate the fruit. You simply combine the Pimm’s #1 with soda and add some strawberries, orange, cucumber and mint.

Pimm’s No 1: An English Tradition

Having a Pimm’s Cup with strawberries and cream at Wimbledon is the equivalent to having a hot dog and beer at a World Series game in the US. Last year, the Olympics banned Pimm’s from Wimbledon, which prompted the UK’s number one tennis player, Andy Murray’s mother to say, “No point going then.” -from Reuters.

Pimm’s liqueur is as English as afternoon tea, pubs and a stiff upper lip! Everyone in the UK knows the marketing slogan, “It’s Pimm’s o’clock!” Even Scotland has adapted the beverage into a “Glasgow Garden Party” cocktail which substitutes the lemon lime soda for Irn Bru! Haha!

NOTE: if you follow the British recipe, and you are in the US or Canada, please don’t use regular lemonade (water, sugar and lemon juice) as lemonade in the UK is a fizzy soda, like Sprite or 7UP. You’ll see that many people made this mistake when copying others’ incorrect recipes for a BRITISH SHANDY.

Another mixed fruit recipe: Italian Macedonia fruit salad.

Pimm’s No. 1 Cup is not too strong and has some light herbal flavors; but don’t let this scare you as it has is a truly lovely liqueur! It’s also nice to be able to make a large quantity of a beverage like a punch ahead of time so everyone can just enjoy instead of mixing drinks.

My English cousin, Denisa, who I introduced you to with my chocolate bread pudding recipe, makes a fabulous Pimm’s No 1 Cup. I know this, because I’ve tasted it, and everyone who has it, asks her for the recipe. In fact, when I was asking her permission to write this post, she laughed and said someone had just asked her for the recipe that day!

Denisa’s fruits of choice are nectarines, apples, grapes, bananas and strawberries. Cucumbers are lovely for a bit of contrasting color in the drink, but both Denisa and I prefer the flavor of just the fruit. Feel free to use whatever fruit you like, as you really can’t go wrong.

Denisa’s Pimm’s No 1 Punch

Recipe by Denisa Lee         serves 8-10

FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW

Ingredients

• Pimm’s No 1 Cup liqueur
• nectarines
• apple
• grapes
• strawberries
• cucumber
• white wine
• lemon lime soda

Plan to make this in advance as the fruit needs to steep.

Directions

Place all the cut up fruit in a large bowl or punch bowl, then pour the bottle of Pimm’s over the fruit, cover and set aside for 2-3 hours. Keeping it refrigerated is preferable, but not necessary.

Now add the chilled white wine and lemon-lime soda, and serve in tall glasses.

BONUS recipe: Strawberries and Cream

• fresh, organic strawberries
• organic, fresh whipping cream*

Cut up the strawberries and place in serving bowls. Whip the cream lightly, and pour/dollop on top of the strawberries.

*In the US, we don’t have the choices that the Brits have when it comes to types of cream, so the best we can do is buy organic, and lightly whip it. It is much too runny to pour over strawberries and other fruits/desserts like they do in Britain. :(

 Now go an enjoy Wimbledon like an Englishman (or Englishwoman)!

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