PIMMS & Possibilities

PIMMS & Possibilities

Oh, yum!

While editing Rain Dodging, I couldn’t help but notice how often I imbibed a Pimms & Lemonade: 

Stopping at a quaint pub, I descended three stone steps and sat at a table in a lush, small patio garden for a Pimms & lemonade—delicious—and an “ultimate burger,” not so good, but it served its purpose.

Back near my London hotel, I relished a quiet dinner at an airy Thai restaurant on Hugh Street. Ordering my standard Pimms & Lemonade, I eased back, enjoying the teak woods and fresh décor, sea blue on white.

It took me quite a while to find the St. Crispin Inn, but it was worth it. My room was authentically enchanting, above the pub where I ordered my Pimms & Lemonade and then a delicious filet of trout. Afterward, I got cozy in my room, a gentle rain with windows wide open; looking forward to a new adventure tomorrow. Does it get any better than this?  

Learn about the drink’s history and enjoy some recipe ideas:

James Pimm created the liqueur, Pimms, in 1840, at his London oyster bar. Back then, it was routine to create one’s own liqueurs. Pimms is gin-based, the color of deep red, and flavored with herbal botanicals, spices, and caramelized orange. It is fifty-proof (25% alcohol) and was originally known as a digestif, served after a meal with the intention of aiding digestion.

Now so popular, Pimms is often thought of as the number two English drink, tea is the first, naturally. Pimm’s is most popular in southern England and is one of the two staple drinks at Wimbledon, the other being champagne. Every year, over 80,000 pints of Pimm’s cocktail are sold to spectators. It has also gained popularity among British universities, which is how I discovered it.

It’s especially good outside on a warm day: As a summer long drink (served in a tall glass), it is normally served as a Pimm’s cocktail, a drink with “English-style” lemonade: British lemonade differs from American: In England, lemonade is a lemon-flavored soda, like 7-up or Sprite. Sliced garnishes make the drink, particularly apple, cucumber, orange, lemon, strawberry, and mint.

The mix of 1-part Pimm’s and 3-parts lemonade is considered the most traditional.

In a tall glass filled with ice cubes, pour the Pimm’s. Add the lemonade. *(Look for lemon-flavored soda from boutique soda makers) Garnish with the cucumber and any combination of mint, orange, and strawberries that you like.  

Let me know in the comment box below if you try it: Cheers!

https://www.thespruceeats.com/pimms
https://drinks.seriouseats.com/2012/03/diy-how-to-make-your own-pimms-no-1-cocktails.html
Bunny Ultramod. Bunny and Coco Get Smashed.
Lloyd, John; Roberts, Michael (1989). The Pimm’s Book of Polo.
“How to make the perfect jug of Pimm’s.” Good Housekeeping 11 March 2019.