Anyone for Pimms? Pimm's , An English Summer Drink

A hot English summer's day, watching Wimbledon, the cricket or simply lazing in the back garden, one essential drink must be a glass of Pimm's, an English summer drink through and through. A Pimm's is so quick and easy to prepare as you can see in this Pimm's Recipe.

The drink is so popular it is often thought of as the number two English drink, tea of course being the first.

History
Pimm's originated in an Oyster Bar in Poultry Street, in the City of London, owned by James Pimm in 1840. Here he created the Pimm's 'house Cup' flavored with liqueurs and fruit extract.

He rapidly built up a chain of restaurants in a variety of locations, including The Old Bailey and other places "to be seen" for City businessmen of the day. James Pimm is said to have blended his famous 'No 1 Cup', on the premises and it was then sold in pints in pewter tankards. By 1859 Pimm's was on sale outside of the restaurants and in1865 the company was sold to Frederick Sawyer and the first bottle of Pimm's is sold for 3 shillings.

The company was sold on again in 1875 to Sir Horatio Davies who in the following years expanded the sale of the drink. It could be found not only the UK, but also throughout the British Empire and the association of the drink with all things British began.

The No 1 cup is as popular today as ever; the first Pimm's Bar opened at the world famous tennis tournament, Wimbledon in 1971 and today over 80,000 pints of Pimm's and lemonade are sold every year to spectators.

What are the Pimm's Cups?

The original Pimm's No 1 was made using gin, quinine and a secret mixture of herbs as an aid to digestion. After the Second World War, the range was extended using other spirit bases - Scotch for No. 2 cup, No. 3 brandy, No. 4 rum, No. 5 rye and No. 6 vodka. Only the vodka cup and brandy (now called Winter) remain in production with the original No. 1 cup still the most popular.

Recipe for Traditional Pimm's No 1
Easy - Take a jug or glass and fill it with ice, mix one part Pimm’s No. 1 with 3 parts chilled lemonade, add some mint, cucumber, orange and strawberry.