Royal Pimm’s Cup

Erik Adkins, The Slanted Door | San Francisco

royal pimm's cup erik adkins slanted door

The traditional flavors and familiar redcoat-bold color of Pimm’s No. 1 lie at the heart of the Pimm’s Cup. But the Slanted Door’s Erik Adkins wantonly tosses all that tradition to the wind in his Royal Pimm’s Cup, which is built upon a boozy Pimm’s Mix of his own making. It’s all topped lavishly with sparkling wine—because you can “add Champagne to anything and call it ‘royal'”—and many a garish garnish, creating a new tradition all its own.

Ingredients

Serving: 1

  • 2 1/2 ounces Pimm's Mix (recipe below)
  • 2 1/2 ounces Pimm's Mix (recipe below)
  • 3 ounces sparkling wine
  • 3 ounces sparkling wine
  • 1 1/2 ounces ginger ale (preferably Fever Tree)
  • 1 1/2 ounces ginger ale (preferably Fever Tree)
  • 1/4 ounce lemon juice
  • 1/4 ounce lemon juice

Garnish: cucumber, lemon peel, mint sprig, seasonal berries

Directions
  1. In 14-ounce glass, combine Pimm's Mix, sparkling wine, ginger ale, and lemon juice.
  2. Add ice and gently stir.
  3. Use mandoline or sharp knife to thinly cut a long, broad slice of cucumber and wrap around the inside of the top of the glass.
  4. Use a channel knife to cut a slice of lemon peel and add to glass along with bruised mint.
  5. Decorate garishly with seasonal berries.
Editor's Note

For "Pimm's Mix": Combine in a pitcher 6 ounces gin, 6 ounces Campari, 6 ounces sweet vermouth, 6 ounces dry vermouth, 6 ounces Dubonnet and 3 ounces Punt e Mes. Stir well. Recipe makes 1 quart; store in airtight container in refrigerator for up to 1 month.