Spring is teasing us.
It feels like the sun is juuuust about ready to creep out and stay. Well… it feels that way up until the time the rain pours down.
Despite Spring’s indecision, I happen to think it’s time for a Spring cocktail!
I ventured out into the French Quarter on a particularly sunny afternoon just after a rainstorm. It’s just a short walk from my front door to the Napoleon House, a building build 200 years ago. It’s first tenant, Nicholas Girod, was the mayor of New Orleans in the early 1800’s. In 1821, Girod offered his beautiful home up to Napoleon who was living in exile. Nice, right? Napoleon couldn’t make it… he died first.
Even though Napoleon never stepped foot in this house, the name stuck and now the Napoleon House is a restaurant and bar filled with history and old smarmy (I mean that in a good way) waiters.
The Napoleon House is known for their Pimm’s Cup Cocktails. Because I’m a girl who likes extra cucumber slices and a good dose of ginger ale, there’s no reason I can’t recreate these at home! And so it is.
One essential ingredients in a Pimm’s Cup Cocktail: Pimm’s No.1 .
Pimm’s is a gin-based alcohol. It’s a secret blend of herbs and liqueurs and as far as hard alcohols go… it’s on the light side. Pimm’s tastes like… well, it tastes like sweetened bitters with herbs and Spring. It is best simple mixed with lemonade or ginger ale. Cucumbers and lemons are lovely too so let’s get to it already!
Fill glasses with ice.
Pour a few ounces of Pimm’s No. 1 over the ice.
Shove in a few lemon and cucumber slices. Smash them in there a bit.
Top the Pimm’s No.1 with ginger ale. Add lemonade if you’d like. Add a few dashes of bitters if you like things on the more hery side of life. Add lemon-lime soda if ginger isn’t your thing. It’s hard to go wrong.
Enjoy your weekend sips!
Pimm’s Cup
makes 2 cocktails
ice
8 thin slices English cucumber
4 thin slices lemon
4 ounces Pimm’s No. 1
8 ounces ginger ale
Fill two tall glasses with ice. Add a few cucumber slices and lemon slices to each glass. Pour 2 ounces of Pimm’s No. 1 into each glass. Top each glass with ginger ale and garnish with any remaining cucumber and lemon. Serve and enjoy!
Amanda - Small Home Big Start
Love a good Pimm’s cup and I’m so glad you reminded me about them! I got a bottle for Christmas this year and you better believe I’m going to crack it open tonight for Friday night cocktails :)
reesa
Joy! It’s been so fun following along on your move and NOLA exploration! And you’re close to Napoleon House, you lucky duck? Try the caponata, it’s divine.
foodlikecake
The napoleaon house looks amazing! You’re in such a cool place.
Anna
I-love-Pimm’s! It’s going to be 75 degrees today. I’d say spring is here. I’d say Pimm’s is on the shopping list today. So excited you’re sharing your Nola experiences!
Lene Svingel
The Napoleon House looks absolutely fantastic – just my sort of place with heaps of time-worn charm and lots atmosphere. As are those mosaic street signs (heavy sigh of longing…) Somebody here mentioned wanderlust, I’ ve caught it too.
I’m not normally a cocktail girl, but the way you describe this, it’s sounds like the only true way to celebrate spring – can’t wait to try it :-)
Have a lovely weekend, Joy!
Francesca
Ahhh, Pimms! It’s still a bit too early in London – it’s the quintessential summer drink but as Lesley mentioned, over here it absolutely has to be made in a jug and it also needs strawberries and mint with the cucumber – no ginger ale, just lemonade, that’s our traditional and favourite way to take it. Blissful and one jug between two guarantees by the end lots of giggles! I have ice cube envy ;) and I love your blog Joy, it’s one of my very favourites. Congratulations on the move, exciting and scary combined! x
Lesley
Better to make it as we Brits do – in a huge jug and then pour into the glass the flavours mingle better, but your ice cubes are very pretty. There is also a winter Pimms which you serve warm and is wonderful at Christmas.
Rachel
This looks fantastic, and I can’t wait to try it. However, I might just have to save this recipe until Summer, as drinking Pimm’s before them is messing with my very British sensibilities!
Averie @ Averie Cooks
What a perfectly refreshing cocktail! Pinned! (and I’d love a couple right now!)
Catherine
It’s Pimm’s o’clock……..lovely to drink while watching Wimbledon.
atasteofmadess
Perfect excuse to recreate it for yourself at home! This looks so good!
Elyse
Pimms tastes like Englsh summer squeezed into a glass!
Stefanie @ Sarcastic Cooking
Look at you all fancy and stylin on the streets of your new digs! I love Pimm’s!!! Where is Spring?!?!?!? Come on!
Matt J
Tsk, tsk, tsk. Your first drink in New Orleans should have been a Sazerac. You’re just a 5 minute walk from Sylvain. Sit at the bar, order one and then the pork shoulder, grits and greens. Thank me later.
Shauna
Joy!! What a glorious place. I’m coming down with some serious wanderlust after reading this post. You and this cocktail look fly. NOLA looks good on you!