Pimm's is especially popular in some parts of Britain, particularly Southern England, where it has an important place in popular drinking culture. It is normally regarded as a summer drink, ideal for picnics, garden parties, or for spending an afternoon in the pub. It is also popular for serving at summer sporting events, such as rowing regattas, tennis tournaments or cricket matches, and is one of the two staple drinks at the Henley Royal Regatta and the Glyndebourne opera festival, the other being champagne."
How terribly English!
According to ViewLondon website, The History of Pimms:
Rewind back to a London oyster bar in the 1840s where owner
James Pimm invented the thirst-quencher. Using gin, quinine and
a secret mixture of herbs, good old Pimm served up the brew as
an aid to digestion, dishing it out in a small tankard and the
No. 1 Cup moniker was born.
Interestingly (and also from Wikipedia), there used to be a
number of different Pimm's, depending on the base alcohol used,
as follows:
- Pimm's No.1 Cup is based on gin. It is 25% alcohol by volume.
- Pimm's No.2 Cup was based on whisky. Currently phased out.
- Pimm's No.3 Cup is based on brandy. Phased out, but a version infused with spices and orange peel marketed as Pimm's Winter Cup is now seasonally available.
- Pimm's No.4 Cup was based on rum. Currently phased out.
- Pimm's No.5 Cup was based on rye. Currently phased out.
- Pimm's No.6 Cup is based on vodka. It is still produced, but in small quantities.
I am starting to get interested in this stuff. So, how does one drink Pimm's No. 1?? A search of the internet revealed the following variations. The first is Dipsophilia tested, and is dangerous....tastes and looks like iced tea! I will re-post this in the summer :)
Pimms Recipes
Dipsophilia Pimm's No. 1
Put ice in a glass. Add one part Pimm's, two parts soda water and a splash of lemon jiuce. Stir and enjoy.
Traditional Pimm's No.1
Take one slice of orange, lemon, apple, cucumber per person and
one sprig of mint and add to two parts lemonade to one part
Pimms.
English Passion Pimm's No.6 (if you can find this...not
available in BCLDB)
Take a shaker 2/3 full of ice and add 50ml of Pimms No.6, 25ml
of Zubrowka vodka, flesh and juice of a passion fruit and a dash
of sugar syrup. Shake well and strain into a tumbler full of
ice. Garnish with a sprig of mint and two short straws.
Pimm's Rangoon recipe
1
1/2 oz Pimm's
ginger ale
lemon peel
1 cucumber
Pour pimm's no.1 over ice in a large highball glass. Fill with
ginger ale and garnish with a lemon and cucumber peel.
BBC Pimm's Cocktail
Pimms
lemonade (closest thing in Canada is 7Up)
ice
fresh mint leaves
lemons, sliced
cucumber, sliced
ginger beer
strawberries, to garnish
1. Pour the Pimms and lemonade over ice in a boston shaker.
2. Add ginger beer and ½ strawberry.
3. Add some mint leaves, lemon and cucumber slices to taste.
4. Serve in a wide brimmed glass.
Enjoy!! And see you in the summer for a Dipsophilia Pimm's!
Jackie