• Summer Here Kids. Time for Pimm’s.

    OK, summer is not here quite yet, technically speaking. But the weather has been beautiful, save a few rainy days. Seventy-four degrees just the other day. That’s only seven or eight degrees cooler than it will be on an average day in July here. And I’ve already attended – check that, hosted – a weekend pool party, and that was in late March.
     

    So as far as I’m concerned, Summer is Here.
     

    Which has me thinking about summer drinks. Many a whiskey lover will agree it is a difficult beverage to tolerate on a warm and bright day. Same goes for brandy. Gins, rums, and tequilas tend to excel in these conditions, which is why so many of the summer classics – your pisco sours, daiquiris, margaritas, and the like – are based on these spirits. My favorite summertime concoction, however, is not based on one of the clear liquors. It’s not even a cocktail, by definition, but a highball.
     

    I’m talking about the Pimm’s Cup.
     


     

    Yeah, yeah, I know. Pimm’s is a gin based liqueur. But it’s far from gin… you wouldn’t make a martini with it.
     

    Why I love this tipple so much, I am not sure. Perhaps it’s the fresh cucumber. Maybe the ginger beer. Or it could be the memories and anticipations of past and future trips to New Orleans, a veritable center of drinking on this fine planet. Regardless, below is my personal take on this classic.
     

    Pimm’s Cup
    2 oz Pimm’s No. 1 Original Cup
    Cock’n Bull Ginger Beer
    Fresh Cucumber
     

    Lightly muddle a cucumber slice or two in the bottom of a highball glass. Fill with ice. Add Pimm’s, and top off with the Ginger Beer. Give it a stir, and garnish with another cucumber slice. Consume. Repeat until tipsy.


     

    Understand that it’s the ginger beer that will make the drink. I’ve played around with a few different brands, including Reed’s and Bundaberg, but I find the spiciness of Cock’n Bull essential in separating my version from the kid drinks. Perhaps one day I’ll shell out the $2.55 for a single bottle of Blenheim’s, but until then…
     
     April 8th, 2010  Mark   7 comments
    Categories: Drinks
    Tags: , ,

    7 responses to “Summer Here Kids. Time for Pimm’s.”

    • Damn, the weather here is still kind of shitty. But I can get Blenheim’s whenever I want from my local bottle store. $2.55 a bottle via mail order is pretty steep, but if you like spicy ginger ale you can’t get any spicier than Blenheim’s.

      Reply

    • Hmmmm…. perfect weather vs easy access to Blenheim’s. That’s a tough one. Either way, I’m gonna have to suck it up and overpay for a six-pack . I can’t go forward having not tried it.

      Reply

    • You said “…but I find the spiciness of Cock’n Bull essential in separating my version from the kid drinks. ”

      Have you ever served this spicy Pimm’s Cup to your non-cocktail friends? I think serving a lemonade version or 7up version would go over better.

      Reply

    • Actually, yes… I served it at my girlfriend’s poolside birthday bash last summer and it went over really well. I don’t think anyone there had even heard of a Pimm’s Cup before, but everyone really enjoyed it. I probably outserved it 5 to 1 over the Mojito, which says a lot.

      Reply

    • You must be a Grandaddy fan

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Phop741MCIU

      Reply

    • The Pimm’s Cup is a nice diversion from my typical summer, post-work evening starter: Pernod and water, over ice. In fact, Tess was just saying last week that we needed to restock our Pimm’s in anticipation of warmer days. We’ve always gone the ghetto route with the Ginger ale though (Canada Dry). Gotta track down some of that Cock n Bull…

      Reply

    • @TJM: Yes.
       

      @WFM: The ghetto route works in a pinch, but I highly suggest you find some good ginger beer and start over. The Cock’n Bull is great, but really, any of the names mentioned above will make a measureable improvement over Canada Dry.

      Reply


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