Top 10 Pimm's Drink Recipes To Try This Summer

Pimm's is the perfect summertime drink, beloved by Brits for its sumptuous flavours and fruity accompaniments. It's particularly popular when Wimbledon is in full swing, although it tends to be served in the traditional way, which can lose its novelty quite quickly.

If you are in the market for a few alternative Pimms drink recipes, here are 10 exciting alternatives to try out whether you are watching the tennis, relaxing in the garden or heading to a family BBQ.

Pimm's Spritz

This is one of the simplest Pimms cocktails that you can whip up in a couple of minutes with a bit of practice.

For a single drink combine 50ml of Pimm's No. 1 with 75ml of high-quality lemonade over ice. Give this a quick stir, then add 25ml of sparkling wine; Prosecco or champagne will work well. Finally, top this off with a trio of cucumber slices and a couple of mint leaves.

Pimm's Sundowner

Pimm's drink ideas do not get more citrusy than this bright hit of sunshine! Take 50ml of Pimm's No. 1 and pour it over a handful of ice cubes which you've added to a long glass. Pop in lemon juice, orange juice and apple juice, opting for 25ml of each fruit's flavoursome offerings. Take the edge off these potentially sour stable mates by splashing in some simple sugar syrup and then top it all off with a slice of fresh orange.

The Pimmlet

This wickedly delicious addition to our line up of Pimms drink recipes is based on that well known cocktail, the Gimlet. But of course in this instance the secret ingredient is none other than Pimm's No. 1.

For this drink, you only need a single measure of Pimm's, shaken over ice with a shot of London Dry gin, 25ml of lime juice and a quick hit of sugar syrup. Strain all of this into a cocktail glass if you have one, then place a ribbon of cucumber and a sprig of mint in at the last moment for that all-important presentational flourish. If you are feeling fairly fancy you can pierce the ribbon of cucumber on a cocktail stick in a concertina fashion to create a cool effect

Pimm's Sparkler

Bring bubbles to the best Pimms cocktails with this champagne-infused drink that will liven you up if you are suffering under the summer sun.

Grab a shaker and add 25ml of Pimm's BlackBerry & Elderflower variety to it, along with 10ml each of lemon juice and elderflower cordial. Mix these well with vigorous arm movements, then strain into a champagne flute and fill the rest of the glass with your preferred French fizz. Garnish with a twist of lemon and a solo blackberry 

Pimm's & Ginger

Another of our Pimms drink recipes that does not require a lot of work to make, all you need is the liqueur and a fiery ginger beer.

Grab a wine glass, or a highball glass if you have one to hand, fill it with ice and then add 50ml of Pimm's No. 1. Next you need to pour over 150ml of the ginger beer you have chosen; opt for a diet variety if you are not a fan of too much sugary flavour on the tongue. This can be enjoyed as-is, although to make it a true cocktail there is no harm in garnishing it with a wedge of lime, which is a good counterpart to the ginger's spice.

Whiskey Rebellion

For people who think Pimm's is too fruity, plonking it in alongside a whiskey with a bit of a smoky bite to it might be a brilliant move and a way to convert you to the side of this summer classic. 

You will need to add ice to a cocktail shaker and then pour a shot of Pimm's No. 1 in, followed by the same amount of whiskey. It is not a good idea to choose a single malt for this purpose; a blended Scotch whiskey or even an American brand will work better here. Add 20ml of lemon juice to this, alongside the same volume of sugar syrup. Once this is shaken, add a few ice cubes to a tumbler and strain the cocktail in to get the most glorious results.

Pimm's & Tonic

As Pimm's is actually based on gin, it is no surprise to find that it works rather well when paired with an artisanal tonic. Fever Tree remains all the rage, so why not give it a shot in your Pimms cocktails this year?
 
To make this you will need 50ml of Pimm's, 25ml of lemon juice and 15ml of sugar syrup. Shake these ingredients over ice, using plenty of elbow grease to make sure they are all cooled down sufficiently. Strain over ice and then finally introduce the tonic, popping a slice of cucumber in if you feel like it needs a little lift 

Pimm's Royale

Another fizzy take on traditional Pimms drink ideas, this requires just two main ingredients, as well as a lot of pre-pouring time in the fridge for your purchases to make sure that they are good and cold before the big moment arrives.
 
All you need is a champagne flute, to which you can add 25ml of Pimm's and then as much sparkling wine as you can fit in the glass. Champagne is arguably the best option if you like a drier flavour, although Prosecco provides a bit more sweetness that is more in keeping with the summer season. Half a strawberry will serve as a welcome garnish for this drink.

Pimm'Ski

While Pimm's is a good partner for gin, as already covered in the Pimm's & Tonic recipe, it can also be paired with vodka and give you a glowing feeling in your mouth this summer.
 
To enjoy this Russian twist on Pimms cocktails, take a tumbler and add a few ice cubes, then a single measure of vodka. If you are looking for a little more flavour, choose Smirnoff's vanilla-flavoured vodka or an equivalent. Next add 50ml of Pimm's Winter – a variety of the brand's liqueur line up that is actually a welcome sight in the summer as well. The finishing touch for this hard-hitting drink is a slice or two of orange, tossed into the mix to leave its citrus mark.

Pimm's Ginger Berry

Another appearance for ginger bear in our exploration of Pimms drink ideas, this version gives more fruitiness to work alongside the spice.
 
To make it you will need 50ml of Pimm's Blackberry & Elderflower, combined with ice in a glass. Add 15ml of lime juice and the same of ginger syrup – something which you may need to snap up especially for this cocktail. Top this off with chilled ginger beer and go wild with the garnish, opting for a fresh blackberry and perhaps a piece of candied ginger if you are someone with a sweet tooth.
 
 
Most of all remember that there is no need to restrict yourself when it comes to making Pimms drinks. Stretch your creativity by coming up with your own recipes and adapting these ones to your liking; you will not regret taking a leap of faith!