Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Cocktail Hour!



We have been enjoying some really amazing weather here in Vancouver lately, and my favourite way to cool down after work is with a refreshing, delicious evening cocktail or two. One of my all time favourites is the classic Pimm's Cup. Pimm's No.1 Cup is a gin-based liquor, dates all the way back to 1823 and started as a tonic to aid in digestion. Very popular in England, you can find classy ladies and gents drinking Pimm's at polo matches and Wimbledon. This is such a great drink; its really refreshing, not too boozy, the ingredients are simple and it can be varied to your tastes or to what you have on hand.




You will need:

Pimm's No. 1 Cup (you can usually find this in the Gin section of the liquor store)
Carbonated Lemonade (a clear, French or English-style lemonade is nice), Ginger Ale or Tonic
Mint
Cucumbers
Lemon, lime, strawberries, etc. (whatever else you feel like adding in)
Ice


Simply pour 2oz of Pimm's into a cocktail glass with ice, add your mint, cucumber and whatever else, and top up with the lemonade or ginger ale.
A couple things- I like to mash the mint just a little bit in a mortar & pestle right before adding, it releases a little more mint flavour. I also poured the lemonade into a pitcher and added cucumber which infused more of a cucumber flavour to the cocktail (and was delicious on its own as well).


If you find it fascinating to read into the history of cocktails, as I do, check out more about Pimm's here and here.

Glassware & Accessories used in photos available at Paboom:
Glass pitcher-$18.95
Glass vase (used as ice bucket)- $13.95
Faceted pedestal bistro tumbler (cocktail glasses)- $2.95
Faceted mini glass (shot glass)- $0.65
Mortar & pestle glass- $10.95
Placemat- $2.95
Assorted glassware- $1.95-$3.95

1 comment:

iain said...

I had a very proper British grandfather and when I was young I was always given ginger beer and once I grew a little I was give my ginger beer with a little pimms to cut off the edge.. amazing drink.

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