The BVC Pimms Lemonade

Summer would never be summer without a glass of Pimms Lemonade in your hand.  Even if you have never heard of Pimms Lemonade, or for that matter Pimms No. 1, it is a historical drink from across the pond in England and is currently making a statement here in the USA.  The liquor we use in the drink is Pimms No. 1 and it has been around since the 1850s.  It was first concocted in an oyster bar in the City of London by a man named Pimm who wanted to give a little umph to gin by adding spices and herbs. He hoped his new drink would be seen as a digestif.  He served it in a small tankard glass (the old fashioned glass with the lid on them) which was known as a "No. 1 Cup," hence the name Pimms No. 1.  The drink has come a long way since used as a digestif in 1850s, and has now become a favorite ingredient in this cool and crisp cocktail that will help you enjoy those hot summer days.

The BVC Pimms Lemonade

Ingredients 

1 1/2 cups Pimms No. 1

2 (12 oz) cans lemon-lime soda (7up is our favorite to use with this drink)

1 red apple, sliced thin and/or diced

1 cup pineapple, diced in small cubes

1 cup strawberries, sliced thin

1 orange, sliced

1/2 lemon, sliced

1/2 lime, sliced

1 cup English cucumber, sliced thin 

Mint for garnish 

**Ingredient note:  For any of the fruit, you can use more or less than the recipe calls for all depending on your own taste.  Same goes for how you slice them.  We personally like to slice the apple two ways, a quarter diced into small cubes and the rest sliced into thin strips.  You can also have bigger slices of pineapple.  They key is to have fun with it.  

Also, if you have never had Pimms No. 1 before, I do recommend starting off with just 1 1/2 cups.  If you find that you enjoy the flavor than you can always add a 1/2 cup more.  Like I said, have fun with it! 

1.  In a pitcher, combine all fruit(apple, pineapple, strawberry) and citrus (orange, lemon, lime).  Add the Pimms No. 1.  Using a wooden spoon slightly muddle the fruit.  You don't want to necessarily smash the fruit and citrus, you just want to slightly release some of their flavors into the Pimms.  A good 2-3 jabs with the spoon should do it.  Add cucumber.  Up to this point you can make this up to an hour ahead of time and set in the fridge (covered) to chill and let all those flavors macerate.

2.  When ready to serve, pour the 2 cans of soda into the pitcher.

3.  Fill a Tom Collins glass halfway with ice.  Add 2 slices of cucumber to the glass and fill the rest with ice.  Fill each glass with Pimms Lemonad mix.  Garnish with a lemon wedge and a  sprig of mint.

Yields about 6 servings

* For those who just want to have one glass of Pimms Lemonade and not make a whole pitcher you can easily make individual sized portions.  

For a single glass of Pimms Lemonade:

2 oz Pimms No. 1

1 1/2 oz juice from an orange

1 oz juice from a lemon

1 oz juice from a lime

1-2 strawberries, sliced thin

6 pieces pineapple, diced small

2 slices of cucumber

2 thin slices of apple (optional)

lemon-lime soda to top

mint for garnish

1.  In a Tom Collins glass, muddle (and this time I mean really muddle) pineapple, strawberry, juice from orange, lemon, and lime.  Add Pimms No. 1 and muddle a couple times more.  Add cucumber and apple slices to glass.  Fill glass with ice.  Top the remainder of glass with lemon-lime soda.  Garnish with a slice of cucumber or a slice of lemon and a sprig of mint.