To celebrate the launch of our brand new Summer Garden Cup gin liqueur, we are taking a closer look at the original summer gin liqueur: Pimm’s No. 1 Cup!

That’s right, in this feature, we are taking gin fans on a journey of discovery to learn all about Pimm’s, finding out what Pimm’s is exactly, what it’s made of, what it tastes like and, of course, we’ll be sharing with you the perfect Pimm’s recipe (it’s like our very own Pimm’s Wiki!).

Scroll down to reveal all!

Image: Pimm’s

What exactly is Pimm’s?

Classic Pimm’s is a quintessentially British alcoholic liqueur or “cup” that was first invented by James Pimm in 1840 to serve at his London oyster bar.

Deep red in colour, and with a fruity and subtly spiced flavour profile, this delicious liqueur was originally created to be a digestif to accompany the oysters that James served. The first Pimm’s drink was Pimm’s No. 1 Cup, which takes its name from the “No.1 Cup” (a small tankard) in which it was served in.

Whilst James’ oyster bar is no longer with us, Pimm’s, normally served with lemonade and fruit today, has now become synonymous with British summertime drinks and the Wimbledon tennis tournament (Pimm’s was first served at Wimbledon in 1972!).

What does Pimm’s taste like?

Pimm’s No. 1 Cup is sweet and rich, fruity and herbaceous, with subtle yet complex juniper and spice notes forming a deliciously moreish base.

What kind of alcohol is Pimm’s?

Pimm’s No.1 Cup is made with gin, but this wasn’t the only Pimm’s drink that has existed. The drinks brand had a whole numbered range, each one made with different alcohol:

Pimm's No. 7 Cup. Image: Pimm’s

• Pimm’s No. 2 Cup was made with Scotch whisky

• Pimm’s No. 3 Cup was made with brandy

• Pimm’s No. 4 Cup was made with rum

• Pimm’s No. 5 Cup was made with rye whiskey

• Pimm’s No. 6 Cup was made with vodka

• Pimm’s No. 7 Cup was made with tequila

Unfortunately, numbers two to five and seven were phased out of production in 1970. No. 6 Cup was also discontinued in 2014, however, it was brought back in 2015 following complaints from fans.

Interestingly, the brandy-based No. 3 Cup was also reintroduced with a new name: Pimm’s No. 3 Winter Cup.

Pimm’s also has two special editions, Pimm’s Blackberry & Elderflower, which is made with vodka, and Pimm’s Strawberry with a Hint of Mint, which is made with gin.

What is Pimm’s made out of?

The Pimm’s recipe is kept a secret, but we do know that their No. 1 Cup is made out of gin, caramelised orange and a carefully selected range of herbal botanicals and spices (not unlike Craft Gin Club’s Summer Garden Cup!).

Can you get drunk on Pimm’s?

Pimm’s has an ABV of 25%. While this isn’t as strong as your average gin (which is usually 37.5% ABV and up), it can definitely get you drunk, so please drink responsibly!

Give it a go in this stunning recipe…

The perfect Pimms recipe:

The perfect Pimm’s and lemonade is all about finding the ideal ratio of Pimm’s to lemonade. For us, it has to be one part Pimm’s to three parts fizzy lemonade. That way, the unique fruit flavours of the summer liqueur can really shine through, complemented rather than overpowered by the lemonade.

But what fruit with Pimm’s? The classic Pimm’s recipe is made with three fruity garnishes: slices of orange, slices of cucumber and slices of strawberry. Finished with sprigs of mint, it’s a gorgeous summer serve.

Pssst, this recipe also works great with ginger ale. Just swap it in for the lemonade!

Serves 4 - 6 people

250ml Pimm’s No. 1 Cup
750ml premium lemonade (available here)
Sliced orange slices, cucumber slices, strawberry slices and mint sprigs, to garnish

Add the No. 1 Cup to a jug with lots of ice, top with lemonade, add the fruit and stir. Pour out a glass of Pimm’s and enjoy!

If you like this jug of Pimm’s recipe, then you need to check out our Summer Pimm’s Punch and the Captain Commander cocktail, which mixes Pimm’s with white vermouth and Campari. Both are utterly delicious!

Pimm’s price?

You can buy a 70cl bottle of Pimm’s for between £10 and £16.50 at most major supermarkets, including Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and Tesco.

Now that you’ve learned all about Pimm’s, it’s time to give Craft Gin Club’s Summer Garden Cup a go - it’s a fantastic new summer gin liqueur cocktail that’s perfect for sipping in the sunshine!