Strawberry Pimm’s Cup Cocktail

Since “the finger incident” on Sunday, we've been fairly useless in the kitchen. We have strict doctor’s orders not to do any dishes, and everything else takes about a gazillion times longer than it should, which basically makes us feel like not doing much of anything. However, while our Chief Culinary Consultant and we were watching some Wimbledon coverage on Monday, the broadcasters mentioned “Pimm’s Cups”, which they said are a signature drink of Wimbledon. We'd never heard of them, but after a speedy search we found that they are a cocktail made with Pimm’s No. 1 liquor, lemonade and carbonated soda. During the broadcast, they specifically talked about strawberry Pimm’s cups, which piqued our interest. When our CCC made his grocery run that resulted in Italian cream sodas, he also snagged a bottle of Pimm’s No. 1 so we could try our hand at a strawberry version of the cocktail. Good doesn’t even begin to describe it!

This is all you need to mix up a strawberry Pimm’s Cup:

(we forgot the 7UP! You need 7UP, too :))

We made a from-scratch strawberry syrup, but our guess is that you could substitute a store-bought one from a brand like Torani. That being said, we think the from-scratch strawberry syrup is what makes this drink; the flavor is fantastic! Plus, once you make a big batch, you can keep it in the refrigerator for up to a month, so it’s reliable to have at the ready if your’e planning a party.

Pimm’s No. 1 is a gin-based liquor with a spicy citrus flavor, which makes it the reliable base for this drink. Instead of going the traditional lemonade route, we took the broadcasters’ cue and went with strawberry as the primary flavor, including a splash of lemon juice, and topping off the drink with a lemon-lime soda such as 7UP. The drink is garnished with sliced cucumbers, sliced strawberries and fresh mint.

This is basically everything wonderful about summer in a glass – it’s fruity, bubbly, has a little lemon and a zing. We took a sip and couldn’t believe how fabulous it was, since many times we find mixed drinks to be way too overpowering for us. Wimbledon knows how to do it! We'll be sipping on this while our finger heals up and we'll be back with some new recipes next week!

One year ago: Red, White and Blue Firecracker Popsicles and Cherry Pie
Two years ago: Zucchini Squares and Angel Food Cake
Three years ago: Scotcheroos
Four years ago: Almond Macarons with Nutella Filling and Cream Cheese Cinnamon Rolls
Five years ago: Danish Braid
Six years ago: Blueberry Crisp

Strawberry Pimm's Cup Cocktail

Yield: 1 drink A strawberry spin on the popular English drink, a Pimm's Cup.

For the Strawberry Syrup:

• 16 ounces (453.59 g) fresh strawberries, hulled and rinsed
• 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar

For the Drink:

• Ice
• 2 ounces (56.7 ml) Pimm's No. 1
• 1 ounce (28.35 ml) lemon juice
• 1 ounce (28.35 ml) Strawberry Syrup
• 2 ounces (56.7 ml) 7UP or ginger ale
• Sliced cucumber, strawberries and fresh mint to garnish

• Make the Strawberry Syrup: Puree the strawberries in a blender or food processor until smooth. Press the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve and measure out 1 cup of the strawberry puree. Add it, along with the sugar, to a small saucepan and bring to a light boil over medium-high heat, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature. (The strawberry syrup can be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a month.)
• Make the Drink: In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine the Pimm's No. 1, lemon juice and 1 ounce of the strawberry syrup and shake. Strain into an ice-filled glass and top with the 7UP. Garnish with sliced cucumber, strawberries and a sprig of fresh mint.

Notes

Nutritional values are based on one serving

• Yield: 1 drink
• Prep: 1 hour
• Cook: 5 minutes
• Total: 1 hour 5 minutes

Ingredients

For the Strawberry Syrup:

• 16 ounces ( 453.59 g ) fresh strawberries, hulled and rinsed
• 1 cup ( 200 g ) granulated sugar

For the Drink:

• Ice
• 2 ounces ( 56.7 ml ) Pimm's No. 1
• 1 ounce ( 28.35 ml ) lemon juice
• 1 ounce ( 28.35 ml ) Strawberry Syrup
• 2 ounces ( 56.7 ml ) 7UP or ginger ale
• Sliced cucumber, strawberries and fresh mint to garnish

Method

1. Make the Strawberry Syrup: Puree the strawberries in a blender or food processor until smooth. Press the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve and measure out 1 cup of the strawberry puree. Add it, along with the sugar, to a small saucepan and bring to a light boil over medium-high heat, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature. (The strawberry syrup can be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a month.)
2. Make the Drink: In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine the Pimm's No. 1, lemon juice and 1 ounce of the strawberry syrup and shake. Strain into an ice-filled glass and top with the 7UP. Garnish with sliced cucumber, strawberries and a sprig of fresh mint.