Legendary tournament Wimbledon will be upon us very soon… and is there a better accompaniment to watching tennis than Pimm’s? A classic British sporting event staple, every sip evokes carefree summer days, so it’s the perfect tipple to enjoy while watching. In fact, attendees are set to consumer over 270,000 glasses of Pimm’s during the Wimbledon fortnight.
For those of us who couldn’t make it courtside, the team at quintessential British brand, Denby Pottery, have shared their top five tips for ensuring you make the perfect Pimm’s at home.
Perfect the measurements
Getting your measures right is the best way to get your pitcher to taste exactly how it does when served in Britain. Too much lemonade will dilute the distinct flavour, but not enough will leave you regretting your measurements the next morning! The perfect measurement is one part Pimm’s and three parts lemonade. There should be a slice of lemon, a slice of cucumber, and one strawberry per glass, with a sprig of mint to garnish the drink. And don’t forget to fill the cup with ice to make it refreshing for those hot summer days.
Pick your fruit wisely
One of the best things about having Pimm’s is getting to eat the delicious, alcohol-soaked fruit once the glass is drained. But what fruit should you opt for to make your pitcher as delicious as it can be? As previously mentioned, lemon, cucumber, and strawberry are three of the essentials. But there are plenty of additions to choose from, to make the drink even fruitier: some of the most popular include orange slices and raspberries. But if you’re looking to give your pitcher a twist, try adding different fruits, such as blackberries, cherries, or kiwi.
Flavour your ice
Ice is vital for making Pimm’s the perfect summertime treat. But when enjoying the drink on a hot day, the ice can melt and leave your cup filled more with water than the drink itself! To avoid melted ice diluting the drink, ditch the plain water and replace it with a flavoured ice. Why not try making Pimm’s ice cubes to keep the perfect flavour balance? Simply mix Pimm’s and lemonade with some orange zest and freeze the mixture in an ice cube tray. Or, if you want to keep the ice alcohol-free, freeze lemonade and chopped up fruit for a tasty and refreshing treat (the little ones can enjoy this in their own drink too).
Serve it right
If you’re serving Pimm’s, you need to do it the right way. Rather than pouring the drink straight in the glass, serve it from a beautiful ceramic pitcher. This gives the fruit more time to soak up the drink. You should also stir the drink before serving, to make sure the mixture combines, but do so lightly to avoid bruising the fruit. Pimm’s is a classy drink, so when serving, make sure to give it the grandeur it deserves. Serve it in a tall, high-quality glass tumbler to make it feel like you’re sipping the drink at a special British event.
Find the perfect pairing
It isn’t just about what you put in your pitcher — what you serve alongside it is important, too. Go all out and put on a British-inspired spread to enjoy alongside your Pimm’s. As it’s a summertime drink, a great way to enjoy it is with classic British picnic foods, such as sausage rolls, quiches, mini trifles, and Victoria sponge. If you want to have the drink in the way that James Pimm intended, pair the pitcher with an oyster-based meal. And if you haven’t had enough of the drink, try out food recipes using the liqueur, such as Pimm’s popsicles, Pimm’s cheesecake, or a Pimm’s infused fruit tart!
Top photo by Candice Picard on Unsplash