When I think of perfect summer cocktails, one of the first things that comes to mind is a Pimm’s Cup. (Seriously, look.) This refreshing mixture of Pimm’s No. 1, sparkling lemonade or ginger ale, and tons of fresh fruit and herbs is easy to make and perfect for drinking in the heat. It’s sort of the sole surviving member of a popular category of cocktails, the fruit cups. While today those two words evoke thoughts of syrupy chunks of pineapple and pear in little plastic tubs, they were once used to describe alcoholic punches made with spirits, spices, and lots of fruit, particularly popular in Britain. Pimm’s is essentially a bottled fruit cup mixer, and it has remained popular enough to stand the test of time. But fruit cups can be made with any kind of spirit, and don’t have to contain Pimm’s at all.
In honor of Wimbledon this week (the #1 excuse to drink a fruit cup – they are to Wimbledon what the Mint Julep is to the Kentucky Derby), Instagrammer and fellow cocktail enthusiast Matt (@theamateurmixologist) has challenged some cocktail Instagrammers to make variations on the classic fruit cup. You can check out their creations by searching the #sippingwimbledon hashtag!
While others are sure to get extremely creative with their fruit cups (there was talk of including things like coffee, burnt cinnamon, and Dubonnet), I gave myself a different challenge: to get as close to a classic Pimm’s Cup as possible without using Pimm’s (or any alcohol, for that matter). This turned out to be an extremely educational exercise. Picking up subtle flavors in liqueurs and spirits can be a challenge, and reconstructing them even moreso. I poured myself a tablespoon of Pimm’s for research purposes and got to work.
The first thing I notice with Pimm’s is the strong scent of bitter citrus, and this carries over into the sip. For this, I thought, a couple of dashes of orange bitters might do, along with some fresh oranges in the cup. Of course, as I’ve discussed before, bitters do contain alcohol, but they’re used in such small amounts that it’s not a concern when it comes to most reasons you’d opt for a mocktail (pregnancy, designated driver, etc). Other flavors I get when I sip Pimm’s are sweetness, spice, and something a lot like cola, actually. So I brought in some Cocktail & Sons Spiced Demerara Syrup (last seen last week) and a splash of Coke. On the advice of some other non-alcoholic Pimm’s Cup recipes, I also added a bit of balsamic vinegar, which somehow seemed to bind all the flavors together.
The result, when combined with the usual ginger ale and a splash of lemon, was surprisingly close to the real thing! Especially once I added the elaborate garnish (cucumber, strawberry, orange, mint, thyme, and rosemary). This is really a perfect mocktail to serve alongside actual Pimm’s Cups at your next summer party so that your non-drinking friends don’t feel left out. You could even pre-batch the mocktail ingredients so that all you have to do is add ginger ale and lemon, just like you’ll be doing for your Pimm’s Cups.
Since this summer drink is best enjoyed outside, we took our Fruit Cups onto the patio. It was a great excuse to break in* our new GoVino cups – plastic, shatterproof cocktail glasses made for outdoor sipping. They sent me a pack of their whiskey glasses, and they’re perfect for drinks on our balcony. Between a slightly wobbly table and an occasionally overzealous little dog at our feet, it’s nice to know we’re not drinking out of anything breakable!
*In truth, this is the second time we’ve used the GoVino cups – my husband had some friends up to the balcony for bourbon and cigars after our crawfish boil a few weeks ago, and since they’d already been drinking for much of the day, I thought it prudent to equip them with shatterproof drinking vessels.
Fruit Cup
1/2 oz. Cocktail & Sons Spiced Demerara Syrup
1/4 oz. lemon juice
1/4 tsp. balsamic vinegar
2 dashes orange bitters
1 oz. cola
6 oz. ginger ale
Sliced strawberries, oranges, and cucumber
Fresh herbs such as mint, rosemary, and thyme
Combine Demerara syrup, lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, orange bitters, and cola in the bottom of your glass. Swirl or stir briefly to combine. Add a few large ice cubes and top with ginger ale. Give it one more brief stir. Garnish with sliced fruit and herbs – the ones here are just a suggestion, so go nuts!