What to Drink: Pimm's

Summer's ending. It's cooling down, and, in the South, that means that it's time to vacate the air conditioning for the patio for one last summer cocktail. The SG endorses a Pimm's No. 1 Cup. Dating back to the mid-19th century, Pimm's is a gin-based liquor involving quinine and herbs. Pimm's is one of the two official drinks of Wimbledon (along with Champagne), and it's probably one of the most under appreciated drinks on earth. The traditional (read: common) Pimm's cocktail is Pimm's and ginger ale or 7up with a cucumber and lemon. Try this: mix a shot or two of Pimm's with... well... anything. It's one of the most versatile liquors around. Here are two recipes worth trying:

Pour Over a Collins glass full of ice:

1 1/2 oz. Pimm's
1 oz. Lemon Juice
1/2 oz. Key Lime Juice
1 oz. Simple Syrup

Stir and Fill with soda
Stir again and garnish with a cucumber and lemon

or

Pour Over a Collins glass full of ice:

2 oz. Pimm's
5 dashes Peychaud's Bitters (A New Orleans classic)
Fill with a blackberry soda (Izze works best) and garnish with an orange

Here's a link to an incredibly snobby, but accurate blog on the subject of Pimm's.