Pimm’s Cup

A quintessential British cocktail, the Pimm’s cup is a perfect summer drink—light and bright and thirst-quenching, with only about half the alcohol you’d find in most other highballs, like a gin and tonic or Dark and Stormy. It is also dead simple to throw together, making it a great option to have at a party. All you need is a bottle of Pimm’s No. 1—a gin-based liqueur flavored with a proprietary mix of botanicals, fruit, and spices—and some soda. You don’t even need a cocktail shaker; the whole drink is built right in a highball or Collins glass (or a similar tall glass).

The classic Pimm’s cup cocktail recipe is credited to James Pimm, who owned an oyster bar in London in the mid-1800s frequented for its punches as much as its shellfish. Still popular in its home country (it’s a favorite at Wimbledon), the drink is now also associated with the city of New Orleans, where it is a popular tipple. The traditional version calls for sparkling lemonade, though some swap the fizz for ginger ale, ginger beer, Sprite (or another lemon-lime soda), or fresh lemon juice and seltzer. Garnishes can include sliced strawberries, citrus, and other fruit; or a mini bouquet of herbs like basil or tarragon. This rendition keeps things as simple and easy as possible, relying on the nuances of the Pimm’s itself, cooling cucumber, sprightly ginger soda, and the fragrance from a sprig of mint to add all the personality the drink needs.