How to Make a Pimm's Cup

One of my goals this year was to learn how to make half a dozen cocktails well. Eight months into this year, and I've finally begun...with a Pimm's Cup. It is the quintessential British summer cocktail, a staple at Wimbledon and at British and American polo matches, and it is refreshing and delicious!

As with anything, I'm always a bit curious about the history behind it all. With some online research, I discovered that the base for the drink, Pimm's No. 1 Cup, was created by James Pimm, a British fishmonger, who opened an oyster bar in London in the 1840's. It was marketed as an aperitif and sold in a small tankard called a No. 1 cup, hence the name. An aperitif, by definition, is an aid to digestion and was typically served before a meal. ("Drinks before dinner? What would Carson say?" - Lady Mary) The exact composition of this liqueur, a mixture of "herbal and floral nuances", is said to be known by only six people.

I'm sort of an alcohol wimp, preferring about 1/3 of a glass of wine to a full glass. So, the Pimm's Cup is a great cocktail for someone who likes just a taste. 

The ingredients are really very simple. All you need besides what you see here is: ice.

Pimm's Cup

1 1/2 oz. Pimm's No. 1

3 oz. lemonade (I made my own, using a recipe found here)

Sprite

orange

cucumber

mint

ice

cocktail straw

Fill an 8 oz. glass full with ice. Add Pimm's and lemonade. Finish filling the glass with Sprite. Garnish with orange, cucumber, and mint. (You can add the garnishes to the glass if desired.) Insert a cocktail straw. Enjoy!