Pimm’s No. 1 is a classic cocktail with countless iterations. We’re partial to the citrus lilt in this version. Takes the edge off the botanical notes of the gin and smooths all the edges. It’s almost too easy to sip.Renee Schettler Rossi

Pimm's Cup cocktail in a class with ice, slice of cucumber, on a flowered tray.

Pimm’s Cup

5 / 2 votes
Pimm’s cup is a classic summer cocktail that’s a perfect mix of lemonade spiked with gin, ginger ale, lime, and orange with the gentle aromatics of cucumber and mint.
David Leite
CourseDrinks
CuisineBritish
Servings1 servings
Calories243 kcal
Prep Time5 minutes
Total Time5 minutes

Ingredients 

  • 4 ounces lemonade
  • 2 ounces Pimm’s No. 1
  • 1 to 3 cucumber slices
  • 2 orange wheels, 2 lemon wheels, 2 apple slices, (optional)
  • Ginger ale, as needed
  • Mint sprig, for garnish

Instructions 

  • Grab your cocktail shaker, add some ice, and pour in the lemonade and Pimm’s. Toss in the cucumber slices and fruit, if desired. Shake.
  • Pour the contents of your shaker into a large glass.
  • Top with a splash of ginger ale and garnish with a mint sprig. Originally published June 23, 2009.

Adapted From

101 Sangrias and Pitcher Drinks

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Nutrition

Serving: 1 cocktailCalories: 243 kcalCarbohydrates: 62 gProtein: 5 gFat: 5 gSaturated Fat: 1 gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1 gMonounsaturated Fat: 1 gSodium: 57 mgPotassium: 1000 mgFiber: 14 gSugar: 18 gVitamin A: 522 IUVitamin C: 32 mgCalcium: 417 mgIron: 5 mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Tried this recipe?Mention @leitesculinaria or tag #leitesculinaria!
Recipe © 2008 Kim Haasarud. Photo © 2008 Alexandra Grablewski. All rights reserved.

Recipe Testers’ Reviews

This Pimm’s Cup is my new favorite summer drink! Need I say more? It’s light and refreshing. The citrus is a wonderful addition and I would not recommend making it without at least the oranges and the cucumber. I also added lemon. The cucumber, lemon, orange, and mint worked off each other to create a crisp, refreshing drink for a warm summer’s night.

For each drink, I used 2 orange slices, 3 cucumber slices, and 1 lemon slice. A small splash of ginger ale is all that’s needed but use plenty of ice. I doubled the recipe and it worked beautifully for 2 drinks.

Pimm’s Cup is my absolute favorite summertime drink, refreshing and easy to make. I’ve sometimes replaced the lemonade and ginger ale with lemon soda (Sanpelligrino limonata) and it’s almost as good. I used orange, lemon, and strawberry.

I was so excited to see this recipe! Pimm’s Cup is one of my summer go-to cocktails and I consider myself very well acquainted with the recipe. I often change the fruit according to what I have on hand, but the version with cucumber is definitely my favorite.

In this version, I used cucumber and lemon slices. We made a pitcher (6 servings) and added the ginger ale as we served it. I estimated about an ounce per glass. I also bruised the mint a little, just to add a hint to the cocktail.

This went over incredibly well. I love the taste of the Pimm’s Cup but also love that my guests are usually unfamiliar with it. It’s tasty, even for people who don’t care for gin, and is honestly pretty posh. Who doesn’t love a big, icy pitcher of posh?

It’s been over 100 degrees here every day for the last week. This cold, refreshing Pimm’s Cup seemed like a no-brainer. Of course I had to drive to the next town to score one of the only two bottles of Pimm’s No. 1 in the county. But it was worth it!

I used the required ingredients except for the optional apple slices. It took about 2 ounces ginger ale to fill the glass after it was mixed. It was just the right balance of sweet from the Pimm’s and tangy from the lemonade and citrus. The cucumber and mint added a nice touch as well.

Delicious. This would be a great drink to serve at an outdoor summer party. We enjoyed while watching the evening news, wishing we were at Wimbledon or a cricket game!

This is a refreshing and delicious cocktail perfect for enjoying during the summer months—simple to make and even easier to drink, especially poolside. I like my drinks only mildly sweet, so I swapped out the ginger ale for some club soda and included just cucumbers and lemon slices. The extra citrus gave it a great tart yet sweet taste. Definitely will make a pitcher next time!

This Pimm’s Cup is a little herbal, a little citrusy, has a hint of bitterness, and is totally refreshing. I garnished the cocktails with cucumber spears and orange wheels and poured over lots of ice. I made the cocktail as a pitcher drink and then topped each serving with a splash (about 2 ounces) of ginger ale at the last minute. Sophisticated and delicious. This is a new addition to my cocktail menu!




About David Leite

David Leite has received three James Beard Awards for his writing as well as for Leite’s Culinaria. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Martha Stewart Living, Saveur, Bon Appétit, Gourmet, Food & Wine, Yankee, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, and more.


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2 Comments

  1. Pimms cup is my favorite summer drink. The original recipe on the bottle in days of yore was for Pimms, Schweppes bitter lemon, cucumber skewers. England still has bitter lemon but no longer in the US. I can find the Schweppes bitter lemon on Amazon but it is a bit expensive. This recipe calls for using the cocktail shaker which is a new twist for me. For this recipe, I used sliced lemon cucumbers from the garden and included some sliced strawberries and orange mint at the end. Still a great summer drink.

    1. Maureen, thanks for that. I included a link to Amazon if anyone else wants to purchase the bitter lemon.