Pimm's Cup Cocktail Recipe
When temperatures rise in Louisiana, this bubbly blend of gin, lemonade and 7-Up provides a perfect way to cool down.
It can get hot in Louisiana during the summertime, no doubt, but there’s more than the state’s rivers, lakes, pools and waterparks to help you cool off. For locals, an ultra-refreshing Pimm’s Cup will do the trick as well.
The popular drink first made its mark among the well-to-do set at New Orleans’ Napoleon House bar and restaurant in the late 1940s. This light, crisp and oh-so-effervescent aperitif of gin, fresh lemonade and 7-Up — served with a sliver of fresh cucumber — is still one of the state’s most popular summer-sippers.
Created in the 1840s by London bartender James Pimm, using a recipe that remains a secret to this day, the Pimm’s No. 1 cocktail (one of six different variations originally made) gained fame in Louisiana almost exactly 100 years later when the owner of the Napoleon House added a citrusy, bubbly twist and started serving his new creation to customers in the heat of summer.
The drink’s lower alcohol content made it the ideal thirst-quencher, so it’s no surprise this new Pimm’s Cup quickly became a local cocktail staple — not just during the summer, but any time of the year. Sip your Pimm’s Cup with another New Orleans staple — a muffuletta sandwich, for which Napoleon House is also known – for a true “only in NOLA” experience.
Put your mixology skills to the test and make your own version of a Pimm’s Cup at home.
Ingredients for Pimm's Cup:
- 1.25 ounces Pimm’s No. 1 gin
- 3 ounces lemonade
- 7-Up, to taste
- Cucumber slice, for garnish
Method of Preparation
- Fill a tall 12-ounce glass with ice, then add gin and lemonade.
- Top off with 7-Up and garnish with a slice of cucumber.
Recipe courtesy of Napoleon House.
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