The mixer determines whether your Pimm’s Cup tastes bright or cloyingly sweet. With Spanish oranges, cucumber, mint and cheese on hand, this low-proof aperitif is easy to make when you choose the right fizz.
A pimm s cup combines Pimm’s No. 1, citrus, garnish and a sparkling mixer: British lemonade makes it softer, while New Orleans ginger ale makes it drier and gently spiced.
British or new orleans: choose your pimm's cup
Both styles start with 50 ml Pimm's No. 1 Cup, but the mixer determines whether the drink suits brunch or salty picnic food.
| Style | Mixer per 50 ml | Sweetness | Best with |
|---|
| British | 150 ml sparkling lemonade | Medium to high | Fresh goat's cheese, strawberries |
| New Orleans | 150 ml ginger ale | Low to medium | Manchego-style sheep's cheese, olives |
| Sprite or 7UP variation | 150 ml lemon-lime soda | High | Only very salty snacks |
British lemonade is a clear, sweet, carbonated lemon drink, closer to lemon soda than still American lemonade. Build 50 ml Pimm's over ice with 150 ml chilled lemonade, two cucumber slices, a citrus wheel and a small mint sprig; replacing the lemonade with lemon juice and water makes the drink thin and sharp.
New Orleans style uses ginger ale, lemon and restrained garnish for a firmer, mildly spiced finish. Sprite and 7UP can work as sweeter variations, but they lack ginger’s balancing spice and are not interchangeable with the classic serve.
Pimm’s began in London in the 1840s, when James Pimm served his gin-based house cup at an oyster bar near the City. The drink later became a staple of British summer drinking, especially at garden parties, rowing events and Wimbledon, where Pimm’s has long been associated with strawberries, cucumber and long, refreshing serves. That background explains the generous fruit garnish in a British Pimm’s Cup: it is not merely decorative, but part of the traditional fruit-cup character.
For a Wimbledon-inspired glass, keep the lemonade cold, add cucumber and mint, and serve strawberries on the side rather than crowding the drink.
Make a balanced cup with spanish ingredients
Cold bottles, modest garnish and one clear flavour direction keep a Spanish serve balanced.
At Barcelona's Mercat de la Boqueria, cucumber, mint, oranges and strawberries are easy to find in season, though British-style lemonade is less reliable. Choose a clear lemon soda and taste it first; if it is very sweet, use 120 ml soda plus 30 ml chilled sparkling water per glass. Choose ginger ale with a clean ginger taste for the New Orleans route.
Fix sweetness, acidity and watery ice
A too-sweet drink needs 30 to 50 ml chilled soda water rather than extra lemon juice, which can make it harsh. Use larger ice cubes and stir only once after adding the mixer, since small ice quickly turns the flavour into weak cordial.
Build one balanced glass
50 ml
Pimm's
+
Ice
to fill
+
150 ml
lemonade or ginger ale
+
2 cucumber slices
mint and citrus
Pour the fizzy mixer last. Stir once, gently, then serve.
If Pimm’s No. 1 is unavailable, use another gin-based fruit cup such as Plymouth Fruit Cup, adjusting the mixer after tasting because sweetness and bitterness vary by brand. In a pinch, combine a dry gin with a small splash of sweet vermouth and a little orange liqueur, then use extra cucumber and citrus to approximate the herbal-fruit profile; it will not be identical, but it makes a convincing summer Pimm’s cocktail. Substitute British lemonade with lemon-lime soda diluted with soda water, or use ginger ale for a spicier route.
If Spanish oranges are unavailable, use ordinary oranges, mandarins or grapefruit, and use firm apple slices or strawberries when cucumber is unavailable. Whatever the combination, use plenty of cold cocktail ice and add the sparkling mixer last.
A pitcher for eight stays fizzy when built late
For eight servings, combine 400 ml Pimm's No. 1 with garnish and add 1.2 litres of ice-cold mixer only as guests arrive.
For a British pitcher, use 400 ml Pimm's, 1.2 litres sparkling lemonade, cucumber, orange, lemon and 8 to 12 mint leaves. For New Orleans style, use 400 ml Pimm's, 1.2 litres ginger ale, two lemons, cucumber and less mint. Chill everything, keep ice in individual glasses and add mixer at the last moment.
Cheese and picnic pairings that make sense
Pair Pimm's with mild, tangy cheeses that leave room for cucumber, citrus and herbs: fresh goat's cheese with peach, young Mahón-Menorca with almonds, or semi-cured goat's cheese with olives and crusty bread. Aged goat's cheese suits the ginger ale version, while blue, washed-rind and heavily smoked cheeses overwhelm the drink.
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Our recommendation
A small fresh-cheese kit is useful when you want a mild, homemade cheese for a Pimm's picnic board. Fresh curd has the clean lactic tang that suits cucumber and citrus better than heavy, aged styles.
- Makes mild fresh cheese that will not cover the drink's botanical notes
- Helps create a brunch board with curd, herbs and seasonal fruit
- Lets you control salt for a lighter aperitif pairing
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Skip this aperitif if you avoid added sugar, carbonation or alcohol. It is also a poor match for intense blue cheese, washed-rind cheese or heavily smoked cheese; choose dry wine, vermouth or an alcohol-free botanical spritz instead.
What people ask
What is a pimm's cup made of?
A Pimm's Cup contains Pimm's No. 1, ice, a fizzy mixer and fresh garnish. Use 50 ml spirit with about 150 ml lemonade or ginger ale.
What type of alcohol is pimm's?
Pimm's No. 1 is a gin-based fruit cup at about 25% ABV, with fruit, citrus, spice and botanical notes.
How do you make a pimm's cocktail?
Build 50 ml Pimm's over ice, add 150 ml chilled mixer, cucumber and a small mint sprig, then stir once.
Does pimm's taste like aperol?
Pimm's is fruitier and more herbal than Aperol, which is more orange-led and bitter.
Can i make a pimm's cup with sprite?
Yes, but it will be sweeter than ginger ale. Use 100 ml Sprite and 50 ml soda water for better balance.
How many calories are in a pimm's cup?
A 200 ml serve usually has between 140 and 190 calories, mainly depending on the mixer’s sugar level.
Can i prepare a pimm's pitcher in advance?
Prepare Pimm's and sturdy fruit up to 4 hours ahead, but add mixer at serving time and keep ice in glasses.
What cheese goes with a pimm's cup?
Fresh goat's cheese and young tangy cheeses pair best. Avoid blue, washed-rind and heavily smoked cheeses.
- British lemonade gives a softer, sweeter citrus serve, while ginger ale makes the New Orleans style drier and spicier.
- Use 50 ml Pimm's and 150 ml cold mixer per glass, with garnish kept deliberately light.
- For eight servings, add the 1.2 litres of carbonated mixer only at the final moment.
- Pair the drink with fresh or tangy Spanish cheese, fruit, olives and bread rather than forceful aged styles.
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