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When I lived in England, I was introduced to the delights of a refreshing Pimm’s punch.
It was the perfect summery, picnic drink, and we often served it while attending sporting events.
You’ll see it served at Ascot and Wimbledon.
Think of this as an ideal drink for the British version of tailgating.
It is akin to serving a mint julep at the Kentucky Derby.
It’s a classic cocktail that’s great to enjoy anytime you’re craving some yummy citrus.
Pimm’s Cup Punch is a delicious drink
At university, we often enjoyed either a Pimm’s Punch or a Pimm’s cup when the weather was nice.
Or simply when we wished it were so.
It was almost always on hand for the boat races.
I enjoy it year round, but it’s particularly nice when it’s warm outside.
I vividly remember my first Pimm’s cup.
I was 19 (drinking age is 18 in England), and I was at the Anchor sitting outside on the terrace overlooking the Cam with some friends.
The memory, and flavor, is indelibly printed on my mind.
Often, a Pimm’s cocktail is simply Pimm’s mixed with a sparkling lemonade.
We’ve jazzed that up a bit to give it a a richer flavor.
It’s still primarily a citrus punch, but it’s so nice and refreshing with cucumber, mint, and strawberry added to the mix.
It dances on the palate.
Sparkling Pimm’s Punch is great for entertaining
Pimm’s punch is the perfect big batch punch recipe for your parties.
Full of citrus goodness, it tastes great and is so easy to make.
Let’s start at the beginning.
What exactly is Pimm’s?
Pimm’s is a British liqueur made from a liquor base with citrus and herbs.
It’s fruity and is best served bubbly.
Thank you to our friends at Sparkling Ice for sharing their recipe and photos with us.
Types of Pimm’s
There’s more than one version of Pimm’s.
They are numbered rather than named, and the one we are using is the classic, Pimm’s No. 1 made with a gin base.
There have been seven different Pimm’s flavors throughout the years.
Each flavor is colloquially referred to as a “cup.”
Today, you can still find:
Pimm’s No. 1 – gin base and the most popular.
It’s referred to as your classic Pimm’s.
If someone simply calls it “Pimm’s,” this is the one they are referring to.
Pimm’s No. 1 with strawberry
This is a small batch option that is not always available
Pimm’s No. 3
Aka “Pimm’s Winter Cup” is available seasonally.
It’s based on brandy with spices and orange.
Pimm’s No. 6
Pimm’s No. 6 is vodka based, and is available as a small batch.
Pimm’s No. 6 with blackberry and elderberry
This variation on Pimm’s No. 6 is also small batch with limited quantities.
As you may have guessed, Pimm’s Nos. 2, 4, and 5 are no longer available.
What you need to make a sparkling Pimm’s punch
Making Pimm’s punch is simple.
All you need are a handful of fresh ingredients, Pimm’s No. 1, some gin, and sparkling lemonade.
To make it, gather:
- 1 blood orange, sliced
- 1 lemon, sliced
- 2 cucumbers, sliced
- 1 lb whole strawberries
- 1 bunch fresh mint leaves
- One 750-ml bottle Pimm’s No. 1
- 1 cup gin
- 4 1/2 cups Sparkling Ice Strawberry Lemonade
You will need these items to make the punch:
- Pitcher or Punch Bowl
- Chef’s Knife
- Cutting Board
- Bar Spoon
Make it a Mocktail
Frankly, when you make this drink without the alcohol, it will simply become punch.
But it will still taste good even without the signature Pimm’s flavor.
What I recommend is to substitute the Pimm’s and gin with more Sparkling Ice Strawberry Lemonade.
Then also add a cup of lemon-lime soda.
Sticking with a flavor in the citrus family stays as close as possible to the spirit of the punch.
Ginger ale or club soda will also do, but the lemon-live gives it more of the citrus vibe.
How to make a large batch of Sparkling Pimm’s Punch
In a large punch bowl, combine the blood oranges, lemons, cucumbers, strawberries, and half of the mint.
Pour in the Pimm’s, gin, and Sparkling Ice Strawberry Lemonade, stir until combined.
Fill glasses with ice and pour or ladle in the punch, garnish with the remaining mint and serve.
When I make a single batch, I like to serve it in a pitcher.
But when I’m doubling or tripling the recipe for a big batch cocktail, I like to serve it in a punch bowl.
More delicious citrus drinks to try:
If you love drinks with delicious citrus flavor, you may also enjoy these cocktails too:
Orange Mango Mimosas
Electric Margaritas
Blood Orange Punch
Sparkling Hibiscus Superior
Blood Orange Whiskey Sour
Dreamy Orange Cocktail
Pimm’s Cup Pitcher
Plum Citrus Whisky Smash
Blood Orange Gimlet
Black Eyed Susan Cocktail
Spicy Grapefruit and Jalapeno Margarita
Sparkling Paloma
Tequila Sunrise
Sunrise Mimosa
Electric Mimosa
try it and share!
Please let us know how you enjoy our Pimm’s Cup Punch recipe.
If you make it yourself, please let us know on Pinterest that you tried it and tag us with #champagneandcoconuts on your Instagram photo.
If you haven’t had a chance to make it yet, be sure to save the recipe on Pinterest so you’ll remember where you found it.
You may enjoy following our Pinterest Board, Punch Cocktail and Mocktail Recipes and Pimm’s Cup Cocktail and Punch Recipes boards too.
Sparkling Ice We’ve jazzed up a Pimm’s punch to give it a richer flavor. It’s still primarily a citrus punch, but it’s so nice and refreshing with cucumber, mint, and strawberry added to the mix.
- 1 Blood Orange sliced
- 1 Lemon sliced
- 2 Cucumbers sliced
- 1 lb Strawberries whole
- 1 bunch Mint Leaves fresh
- 750 mL Pimm’s No. 1 (1 bottle)
- 1 cup Gin (London dry gin)
- 4.5 cups Sparkling Ice Strawberry Lemonade flavor
- In a large pitcher or punch bowl, combine the blood orange, lemon, cucumber, strawberries, and half of the mint.
- Reserve the remaining half of the mint.
- Pour in the Pimm’s, gin, and Sparkling Ice Strawberry Lemonade.
- Stir until well-combined.
- Serve over ice and garnish with mint. Enjoy!
Please note that the nutrition information is subject to change based upon your choice of ingredients.
Hi, I’m Jennifer. I love to cook and entertain. I have a lot of fun sharing traditional food and drink recipes as well as putting a new spin on the classics. I strive to provide easy to make recipes that are perfect for the home cook, bartender and entertainer.