It is time to verify that your Wimbledon provisions are in order. Yesterday’s assignment was strawberries and cream. Today’s task sends us to the liquor store.
A signature drink has become somewhat of a holy grail for professional tennis tournaments. In fact, if you pay close attention to tennis coverage, you can observe a concerted effort from organizers trying to create and market an iconic cocktail that fans embrace as a core part of the experience. No two tournaments have had more success in that regard than the Honey Deuce at the US Open and Wimbledon’s Pimm’s Cup. The rest of the tennis world is trying to capture the lightning-in-a-bottle success achieved by those two concessions.
Comparing the Pimm’s Cup to the Honey Deuce is particularly interesting because the two beverages arrived at their respective tournaments through very different paths. The Honey Deuce was intentionally created to become the signature drink of the US Open. It is a successful piece of branding that took hold as a tradition. In contrast, the Pimm’s Cup came from the opposite direction. The drink was already a longstanding part of British summer culture long before Wimbledon appropriated it. The Honey Deuce was designed to become a tradition. The Pimm’s Cup was an existing tradition that was adopted.
Pimm’s No. 1 is a gin-based liqueur whose exact recipe remains a closely guarded secret. The flavor profile includes citrus, herbs, and spices. While Pimm’s can certainly be enjoyed on its own, its most famous use is in the Pimm’s Cup, a cocktail traditionally mixed with lemonade, ginger ale, or another sparkling mixer and served with fresh fruit and herbs. Many who love it claim that it tastes like summer.
Wimbledon is a sporting event wrapped in a garden party. Thus, the Pimm’s Cup perfectly reflects the atmosphere the AELTC is trying to create. The drink feels less like something designed for a raucous celebration and more like it was intended to be properly and genteely enjoyed. In that sense, the drink is almost an extension of the tournament itself.
As with the strawberries and cream discussed yesterday, one appealing aspect of the Pimm’s Cup is that it is easy to recreate at home. Most liquor stores carry the Pimm’s No. 1 liqueur, and the remaining ingredients are standard grocery store fare.
- 2 oz Pimm’s No 1 Cup Liqueur
- 6 oz Ginger Ale
- Cucumber Slice
- Orange Slice
- Mint
Muddle a few mint leaves in the bottom of the cup, and add the cucumber and orange slices. Add the Pimm’s and then the ice. Pour the ginger ale over the ice and rub an additional mint leaf around the rim and add to the top of the cup.
“Authentic” Fiend at Court Pimm’s No 1 Cup Recipe
Based on past experiences, that final step of rubbing a mint leaf around the rim and adding it to the cup takes the drink from pretty good to great. However, I don’t typically use a straw. Based on images from Wimbledon, Pimm’s Cups are definitely served with a straw at that venue.
Yesterday was a reminder that it is time to acquire strawberries and cream. Today’s task is to make sure you have a bottle of Pimm’s, some fresh mint, a cucumber, and ginger ale on hand.
The Championships begin on Monday.