Since the Olympics only happen once every four years, it seems appropriate to celebrate it with drink. True, almost anything is worth celebrating with drink, but the Olympics are different. Since they are being hosted in London this year, an English drink is in order.
Summer breeds good cocktails. American Mint Juleps. Cuban Mojitos. The English have the Pimm’s Cup. Named after a bar owner who created the main ingredient (Pimm’s No. 1) in the mid 1800s, it is apparently the drink to order at polo matches. As you might imagine, the polo scene in Montana is somewhat… less than impressive.
Regardless, it is hailed as a cool and refreshing summer drink that holds its own with other, more well known and established cocktails. Here’s how you do it:
1 piece English cucumber about 3 inches long, sliced into 1/2 pieces. Save two spears for garnish
3/4 cup Pimm’s No. 1
3 tbsp Meyer lemon juice, freshly squeezed. (Regular lemon juice will work so long as it’s fresh)
1/2 tsp sugar
2 lemon slices
2 strawberries, cut in half
Ginger beer (chill it beforehand)
2 stalks of rhubarb
Place your cucumber slices in a cocktail shaker and smash well. Add the No. 1, lemon juice and sugar. Put 2 pint glasses in the freezer to chill about now. Fill the shaker with ice, and shake. How you shake is up to you, but I suggest some kind of movement the chicks dig.
Fill the chilled glasses with ice, and strain the drink into them. Add the lemon slices and strawberry halves. Some people also will throw in a sprig of mint, rosemary, and thyme to each glass. Top the glasses off with the chilled ginger beer, garnish with the cucumber spears and rhubarb, and voila.
Cheers.
