This winter Pimms cup, or Pimms spritz, is a fabulous wintery take on the classic British summertime Pimms cocktail. Hints of orange and ginger are added along with a generous splash of both Pimms and prosecco. It’s simple, stylish and scrumptious.
Try one accompanied by a puff-pastry mince pie.
This post is sponsored by (paid link) Mixologist’s Garden. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This post also contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Pimms is often relegated to summer drinking but this Winter Pimms cup cocktail proves that it really should not be. Combining Pimms with orange liqueur, ginger ale and prosecco is a fantastic way to restyle Pimms for the winter palate.
This drink could also be called a Pimms spritz, Pimms & Prosecco or simply Christmas Pimms.
Garnishes for this drink should be stylish and simple. I’ve utilised cinnamon sticks, rosemary and (paid link) freeze-dried orange slices from Mixologist’s Garden to produce a mouthwatering aroma and visual appeal.
For more drink recipes featuring freeze-dried fruit garnishes take a peek at my recipes for the Charlie Chaplin cocktail, English Garden cocktail, Southern cider and negroni sour.
Why you’ll love this cocktail
- Appearance – this winter Pimms cup is a gorgeous shade of amber and it’s easy to present stylishly for minimal effort.
- Taste – one of my taste testers said it felt like drinking Christmas pudding. There’s spice. There’s fruit. Oh, sweet joy.
- Inventive – if Pimms is one of your favourite summer drinks that this spritz is a great makeover enabling you to enjoy Pimms in winter too.
- Easy – this drink is assembled in the glass. It’s ready in a couple of minutes.
Ingredients notes
Pimms – there really is no substitute for this product when making this Winter Pimms cocktail.
Orange liqueur – use an orange liqueur such as Cointreau, or another similar Triple sec.
Ginger ale – ginger ale has a gentle flavour and it’s relatively dry compared to ginger beer, so ensure you seek out the real thing.
Prosecco – this is an affordable option, but of course, feel free to push the boat out and use Champagne if you want to. Alternatively, Cava or other dry sparkling wine can be used.
Garnishes: Pimms in winter begs for orange as a garnish, so make use of (paid link) Mixologist’s Garden freeze-dried orange slices and use them layered within the drink and to top it. Cinnamon sticks and fresh herbs such as rosemary or thyme also amplify the appearance of this Pimms and prosecco drink.
You can use Mixologist’s Garden orange slices in plenty of other cocktails too. Try them in my festive non-alcoholic punch (coming soon) or slip a few into a tequila mule.
Step by step instructions
Full instructions and measurements are given in the printable recipe card at the end of this post.
Step 1. Fill a high-ball glass with ice layering some freeze-dried orange slices in between.
Step 2. Pour in the Pimms and the orange liqueur.
Step 3. Now add the ginger ale and prosecco. Push a cinnamon stick into the cocktail and stir gently.
Step 4. Tuck several slices of (paid link) freeze-dried orange and a sprig of rosemary in alongside the cinnamon. Serve your Pimms spritz immediately.
Top Tip: If you are hosting a party and making a lot of these drinks consider creating a garnish bar to enable people to have fun adding their own finishing touches.
Expert tips
- You’ll need plenty of ice for this Pimms and prosecco cocktail.
- Ensure that all liquid ingredients are well-chilled before making this drink. If they are not chilled then the ice will melt too quicky, diluting the drink, deflating the bubbles and compromising the flavour of your Pimms spritz.
- Try layering in (paid link) Mixologist’s Garden freeze-dried raspberries and pieces of orange when you add the ice to the glass.
Frequently asked questions
Pimms is a gin-based fruit cup (or liqueur) with notes of citrus and spice. It is intended to be diluted to create long drinks such as this Pimms winter cup or the classic summertime version, made with copious amounts of fruit, cucumber and lemonade.
If made as per the recipe card included at the bottom of this post this winter Pimms cup is approximately 13% ABV (alcohol by volume).
Varying the quantities of the ingredients will affect the ABV level of your cocktail. If you are interested in knowing the alcohol content of your variation, you will need to calculate it.
This Pimms and prosecco cocktail is best enjoyed freshly poured due to the sparkling nature of the ginger ale and prosecco
This drink has been created to enable fans to enjoy Pimms in winter. However, there is nothing to stop you from enjoying this cocktail at any time of the year.
Sparkling in nature, this libation makes a great welcome drink to a party.
What should I serve with my Pimms spritz?
Pimms was created by James Pimm, the owner of an oyster bar in London, to aid digestion. Following this notion, seafood is a great nibble to serve with your winter Pimms spritz but there are alternatives too. Try the following:
And for something sweet pair it with a slice of marzipan fruit cake, a mince pie or a Coventry god cake.
More wintery cocktails to try
If the idea of Pimms in winter ticks boxes for you then how about transforming some of your other favourite summer drinks for winter? Try these
Have you made this winter Pimms cup? Please give the recipe a rating or leave a comment – I love to hear how you get along with my creations.
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📖 Recipe
Winter Pimms Cup (Pimms Spritz)
Ingredients
- 45 ml Pimms
- 15 ml Triple Sec such as Cointreau
- 45 ml Ginger ale
- 75 ml Prosecco
Garnishes
- 1 Cinnamon stick
- 1 Rosemary sprig
- Freeze0dried orange slices from Mixologists Garden
Instructions
- Fill a highball glass with ice, layering a few orange slices in as you fill it.
- Pour in the Pimms followed by the Triple Sec.
- Add the ginger ale then pour the Prosecco into the glass.
- Poke a cinnamon stick into the ice and use it to gently mix the ingredients.
- Wedge 2 orange slices and a stem of rosemary into the glass and serve.
Notes
- You’ll need plenty of ice for this Pimms and prosecco cocktail.
- Ensure that all liquid ingredients are well-chilled before making this drink. If they are not chilled then the ice will melt too quicky, diluting the drink, deflating the bubbles and compromising the flavour of your Pimms spritz.
- Try layering in (paid link) Mixologist’s Garden freeze-dried raspberries and pieces of orange when you add the ice to the glass.
- This drink is best served immediately and it is not suitable for making in advance due to the effervescent nature of the ginger ale and prosecco.
Jane Coupland
I loved the outcome of reinventing this classic cocktail for the festive season and I really hope that you enjoy this drink as much as my taste testers did.