WITH a heatwave across the UK it’s time to hit the garden.
And while you’re there, what could be more British than an ice-cold Pimm’s No1 on a warm summer day?
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But you don’t have to reach for the original gin-based “summer cup” – supermarkets and distilleries have created their own, cheaper versions.
Laura Stott tried a selection to see how they compared, marking each out of five.
All were made to the same recipe – 600ml of lemonade to 200ml of the summer cup.
Cheers!
The Great Summer Cup, 70cl £7, asda.com
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A LOVELY summery tipple that is eminently gluggable once mixed to the traditional recipe, with plenty of juicy berries, mint and cucumber.
It’s a touch darker in the bottle than the best-selling brand and the flavour is less bitter and a bit fruitier, with fewer hints of spice, but it’s very flavoursome and if you didn’t know you weren’t drinking the original Pimm’s I don’t think you’d guess.
Perhaps a little less sophisticated and complex in aroma and flavour, but this is still a very enjoyable drink that’s great value for money to enjoy in the garden.
Rating: 4/5
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Austin’s Summer Punch, 70cl £7.49, Aldi stores
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YOU’LL struggle to spot the difference when you taste discounter Aldi’s homage to the original Pimm’s.
It’s a blend of gin, grain spirit and fruity flavour, and the resemblance is there on the bottle too, with its British branding, although the drink itself is a touch paler.
The two also smell very similar, and once made up to the recipe, the tastes are hard to tell apart.
There’s a slightly different hue in the glass, with more foam in the Aldi version and a touch more sticky sweetness when you sip it, but otherwise they are incredibly alike.
A pitcher will definitely hit the spot on a warm day, and it will also save you a packet.
Rating: 5/5
Sipsmith London Cup, 70cl £15.99, amazon.com
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AN alternative that pitches itself less as a direct substitute for Pimm’s and more as something a little different.
Once mixed, the colour is more like rosé wine, which makes for a very pretty pastel cocktail in the jug or glass.
There are still plenty of similarities between the two beverages though.
Made with London dry gin, this juniper punch base is also infused with botanicals and fruits but has some quirkier additions including tea, citrus fruits, caramel, borage and verbena.
It’s dry, though still refreshing, has a unique taste, is interesting to drink, will save you money and the bottle is beautiful.
It would also be delicious mixed with tonic or ginger beer.
Very boozy though, so sip carefully!
Rating: 3/5
Cotswolds Summer Cup, 70cl £20, majestic.co.uk
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A SOPHISTICATED drop that brings something new to the jug with the addition of two sherries to the traditional juniper-essence base of gin, which really ups the tang level on your tongue.
It has a much darker treacle hue than Pimm’s, and a more bittersweet, caramel flavour, but with plenty of zest and pep and a proper boozy kick.
It’s not quite as thirst- quenching but it’s still very quaffable.
This British distillery blend looks and tastes rather different from the original summer cup, but is worth a try for a change, and the swish branding will definitely impress your mates.
Not a huge cost saving, but I’d wager a bottle of this will last far longer, and you can really taste its top-quality gin.
Rating: 3/5
Jeeves Fruit Punch, 70cl £9.97, Tesco stores
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ANOTHER Pimm’s-alike in the bottle, with bunting and cricketing scenes on the label that scream traditional British summer.
The colour is a decent match too – a weaker shade of red, but once it’s diluted in a jug you’d be hard pushed to tell them apart on looks.
Flavour-wise this does taste a little weaker than Pimm’s, with less depth and intensity of spice.
The predominant sensation is sugary booze, not sophisticated zest.
But there’s a nice hum of fruit and it’s sweeter than the original, more like a cordial than a cocktail, which is reflected in its lower ABV percentage – no bad thing for glugging on a warm day, perhaps!
Rating: 2/5
Tesco Summer Cup, 70cl £8, tesco.com
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IN the bottle this substitute looks very similar to the original Pimm’s, it’s the same rich, cherry red and the smell is perhaps a little spicier but it’s not far off the real thing.
It’s also gin-based, with the familiar notes of fruity, botanical aromatics, and before you pour, I think you’d be hard pushed to tell the difference between the two.
But when you taste it in the traditional cocktail recipe you’ll find they aren’t quite the same.
This version is more herbal and bitter, but I enjoyed the sharper taste and if it’s not sweet enough for you, try adding more lemonade or saccharine fruits.
Not identical, but a very good effort and a huge price saving.
I’d be happy with it in a highball over ice.
Rating: 4/5
Pimm’s, 1L, £22, sainsburys.co.uk
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THE traditional taste of this boozy best-selling botanical is instantly recognisable, and it really is the smell and sip of the great British summer in a glass.
It’s a favourite that’s enjoyed everywhere from pub gardens to royal enclosures, and for a good reason – it slips down a treat in the sunshine with its classic mix of bittersweet and tangy flavours, caramel fruity notes and a mellow, gentle fizz once mixed with lemonade.
Perfect as an icy-cold tipple on a hot day, it’s incredibly quaffable and tastes very refreshing, but with an unmistakably boozy kick from the gin.
Delicious, but it’s a shame a bottle costs so much.
Rating: 3/5
