I’ve been thinking about Summer a lot. Probably because it’s been so cold and I need to be reminded that there will be sunshine and warmth again someday. I’ve teamed up with Zevia to bring you a Winter Pimm’s Cup in honor of one of my favorite Summer classics. The first time I ever had a Pimm’s Cup was many years ago in the city of New Orleans. I think anything I’ve ever eaten or drunk in NOLA has become an instant favorite. It’s impossible not to fall in love with that city.
New Orleans has a way of taking things that you could find anywhere and re-engineering them so that they become so uniquely New Orleans, you’d be hard-pressed to find anything else that measures up. The Pimm’s Cup is one such example. While the classic drink was born in a London bar at the hands of a bartender named James Pimm, the Napoleon House in New Orleans has taken his creation, put a slight twist on it, and placed it down in one of the city’s most charming watering holes. If you ever get a chance to visit, going to the Napoleon House for a Pimm’s Cup and a muffaletta is a must!
I love to make my Pimm’s Cup like the Napoleon House does — Pimm’s, fresh lemonade, lemon/lime soda and a very elaborate cucumber garnish. For my Winter Pimm’s Cup, I’ve added Scotch for a cold weather spin on the classic. There’s no need to add the extra sugar of soda when you can make the perfect cocktail with Zevia Dry Lemon Lime.
Winter Pimm’s Cup
1 oz. Scotch
1 oz. Pimm’s
3/4 oz. fresh lemon juice
3/4 oz. stevia simple syrup
1 can Zevia Dry Lemon Lime Mixer
cucumber, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, and mint for muddling and garnish
Making stevia simple syrup is easy and a great way to make your cocktails a little healthier. Mix 2 tablespoons of powdered stevia with 1 cup of warm water and stir until completely dissolved. The consistency of this syrup will be much thinner than traditional simple syrup. Stevia simple syrup still works perfectly for adding sweetness and balancing out citrus in your drinks.
To make a Winter Pimm’s Cup add some berries, mint, cucumber, lemon juice, and stevia simple syrup to a tin. Give it a quick muddle and then add your Scotch and Pimm’s. Shake with ice and strain into a highball glass over ice and top with Zevia Dry Lemon Lime Mixer. Garnish elaborately with a bouquet of mint, berries, and cucumber slices.
This Winter Pimm’s Cup is a perfect variation on the classic — cool, light, tart, refreshing, and slightly smoky. The Zevia Dry Lemon Lime Mixer is a great substitute for regular sodas because it doesn’t add too much sweetness or sugar. A Pimm’s Cup is usually a low ABV cocktail but I like how the Scotch kicks it up a notch. I need some alcohol content to stay warm this winter. My favorite thing about this drink (besides drinking it) is the elaborate fruit garnish. It practically qualifies as a cocktail and a fruit salad snack which is A-OK with me! I hope you’ll be mixing up a few of these this Winter. xo
