Transcript: Pimm's Cup

Cocktails on the fly
Episode “Pimms Cup”

Alberta Strauss: Hi, um today I am going to tell you how to make the Pimms cup, this is a great drink. It is classic, it’s from England. It’s kind of hard for flighty to say but its low alcohol. But sometimes there is a time and a place for a low alcohol drink. The Pimms cup, oddly enough is to Wimbledon as the mint julep is to the Kentucky derby. Now by that I believe they mean, in just a historical classic wise. Not in anyway drink wise because how can a low alcohol drink be compared with a mint julep?
But that’s fine; this is a great tasting drink. They are fun to serve. You can make it in a big batch of it and you can serve it to friends if you’re having a party. I know croquet, after you’re coming in from a hard match of croquet or whatever the heck they call it. You know batten those balls, or hitting them, mallet, malleting them. You want to have a Pimms cup.
It’s very refreshing it’s very tasty. You can make it; I am going to make it the most classic way with a flighty twist that I know. But it’s also like Sangria in a way because you can add fresh fruit to it or whatever you want. So basically the recipe is you want to use equal parts of the Pimms #1 cup, which is a gin based herbal liqueur. It’s got herbs, its got quinine in it. It was invented in the 1850’s by James Pimm. Well surprising he gave it his own name. I can’t believe it.
There is a few other Pimms there used to be a #2 with a scotch base, and ECT, ECT. But um, right now all we can get, or all I have been able to find is Pimms #1. But Pimms #1 is #1 with me, that’s all I have to say. So the recipe is basically equal parts the Pimms, and some lemonade or citrus with simple syrup. And I like to throw in my little flighty spa mix. But that’s not really part of the classic recipe. And then the other part is ginger ale.
So I am going to make it flighty style like I do all my cocktails. Let’s pour this Pimms in. your always going to add the alcohol in first. So even if it is low alcohol it deserves priority. So we put some Pimms in there, yummy yum. And then flighty is going to put in some of her delicious spa mix. Ooh it’s delicious, if I do say so myself, right? Ok. A little slush in my spa mix, ok. If you want to know how to make the spa mix there is another episode titled spa mix, on cocktails on the fly. And that will teach you how to do it.
Its pretty easy so even flighty can do it. Because flighty does not know how to cook very well, let me tell you. Ok, there we go a little spa, a little cucumber. The cucumber is very important to this drink, and actually the Pimms kind of inspired Flighty’s obsession with cucumber. Ok, and then we are going to put some of this lemon juice in. You can buy this at any fine food store. Its organic lemon juice, its not sweetened. So let’s put about an ounce in, there we go.
And then I am going to match it with simple syrup. Oh my goodness it’s going to be so good. And then I am going to put some of my special ginger Cardamom syrup. It adds a little pizzazz, a little heat. Because most ginger ales these days, as you know, don’t really have too much flavor. I don’t know how they call it ginger ale; there is probably no ginger in it at all. But what are you going to do. But luckily I have this fabulous ginger ale, just jetted in from England, Fever Tree ginger ale with actually ginger in it, super yummy. Ok so I am going to open up the top, get it ready, the final preparation. Ok, so put some more layers of cucumber in there, and then I crush some ice in my handy dandy ice crusher. You don’t have to have crushed ice but I like it because it looks nice. It goes real nice and it just makes the drink on a hot day. Just it’s good. Delicious, stir it. Pimms cup, oh it’s looking so good, it’s going to be great.
I wish I had a little white on right now. Of course it would probably turn all red and black and who knows what color in about five seconds because flighty is a little bit flighty messy. Its like Benihana behind my bar sometimes people say. Ok and then we are ready.
Whoo, whoo ok now we are topping off with the ginger ale. Oh it’s looking good, looking good. And then put another little cucumber on there. Yummy cucumber, like I said is key to the Pimms cup. And we have got a mint garnish. Oh it’s looking delicious, and some fresh ginger. There we go, and I am going tot reach over here and grab a straw. Put the straw in there. And there we go. So there we are a delicious and refreshing, and perfect for some kind of a strenuous sporting activity such as badminton, or croquet. There we are the Pimms cup, delicious, refreshing, low alcohol. I think even though its low alcohol flighty is going to give it a try. Mmm, cucumber is stuck throw away the straw. Ok, that is good; the British do know how to make a drink. Fabulous, cheers as they say.
Pimms cup:
1. Pour 2 oz’s of Pimms #1
2. Add a dash of spa mix
3. Add 1 oz of fresh lemon juice
4. Match with simple syrup
5. A splash of ginger cardamom syrup
6. Build layers of ice and cucumber
7. Stir and top off with ginger ale
8. Garnish with mint, ginger and cucumber
9. Refreshing and low in alcohol