Pimm’s Cups

Pimm’s is a liqueur that was first produced in 1823 by James Pimm.

as bourbon. Since then Pimm has made a number of different products. The most popular one is a product called the Pimm’s No. 1 Cup.  It is the most popular drink in Southern England.

The inventor was James Pimm who owned an oyster bar in the center of London near the Bank of England. He created the drink from a secret  mixture of herbs and quinine. These drinks were made in small tankards known as cups.  They were served as a digestif type cocktail with the oysters.

Pimms was sold by hawkers riding bicycles through the streets in 1859. It became a very common drink.  The business was then acquired in 1880 by the Houses.

Over the years Pimms extended their product range and added new cups. In 1851 new formulas such as Pimm’s No 2 Cup and 3 Cup were introduced.  No. 4 Cup, No. 5 cup and No. 6 cup were also introduced 1960s.

The brand almost went under in the seventies and eighties until it was taken over by Guinness. In 2005 Pimm’s introduced the Pimm’s Winter cup which has orange peel and brandy in it.

Here is a look at the different Pimm’s cups produced over the ages.

• Pimm’s No. 1 Cup is based on gin, is tea colored and served with chopped up fruit and borage, lemonade and gingerale.  Mix it with champagne and you will have made a Pimm’s Royal Cup.
• Pimm’s No 2 was based on Scotch whisky and is no longer made
• Pimm’s No 3 was based on Scotch whisky but is also phased out. However the Winter Cup uses a similar recipe.
• Pimm’s No 4 cup was based on rum and currently phased out.
• Pimms No 5 is based on rye whisky and phased out.
• Pimms No 6 cup is based on vodka and is produced in small quantities.
• Pimm’s is also made unofficially by home brewer who make it using bases such absinthe and Islay whisky.

The secret to a Pimm’s Cup Recipe is what you serve with it. The simplest way is to serve it with lemon soda or ginger ale.  Many people serve it with ginger ale, 7 up or gingerale and then add a slice of lemon or cucumber.

A more sophisticated, complex and also traditional thing to do is mix cucumber spears, Pimm’s No. 1, sugar, lemon juice, sugar, sprigs of rosemary, sprigs of mint, sprigs of thyme, lemon slices, 2 fresh strawberries, ginger beer and two rhubarb stalks.