Buzzed: Againn’s Pimm’s Cup No. 13

Comments () | Published January 22, 2010

With more than 150 wine varietals and 130 types of Scotch, there’s plenty to drink at the new British gastropub Againn. Luckily, Elli Benchimol, who was previously at Potenza, Zola, and Zola Wine & Kitchen as beverage director, is there to guide you. In addition, Benchimol crafted a cocktail menu with ten specialty drinks. Included on the menu is, of course, a version of the Pimm’s Cup, a staple British drink. Benchimol’s version, named Pimm’s Cup No. 13, has Hendrick’s gin, but you can substitute your choice of liquor. Check out Benchimol’s demonstration below and make sure to get the recipe as well as browse Againn’s full cocktail menu after the jump.

Pimm’s Cup No. 13

8 to 10 thin slices of English cucumber
4 to 5 fresh mint leaves
½ ounce of ginger simple syrup
1 ounce fresh lemon juice
1¼ ounces Pimm’s No. 1
1¼ Hendricks gin
Dash Angostura bitters
Splash ginger beer

In a glass, muddle cucumbers and mint leaves together. Add ginger syrup, lemon juice, Pimm’s No.1, and gin. Add a dash of Angostura bitters and ice and shake. Double-strain into a Collins glass. Top the drink with a splash of ginger beer. Garnish with a mint sprig and cucumber slice.

Ginger syrup

3 cups water
2 cups sugar
2 cups thinly sliced fresh ginger, unpeeled

Bring water, sugar, and ginger to a boil in a 2-quart saucepan, then stir until sugar is dissolved. Simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, then remove from the heat and let steep 15 minutes. Pour ginger syrup through a sieve into a bowl, discarding ginger.

Cocktails
Mayflower Martini (chrysanthemum-infused Plymouth, Dolin Blanc, Dolin Dry, lemon bitters) $10
Lady Macbeth (Hendrick’s or Square 1 Botanical, St. Germain, lemon, rosewater, egg white) $12
Haig and Peaches (Haig Pinch, peach lambic, Aperol, Benedictine, lemon, vanilla/rooibos tincture, egg white) $14
Yeoman Afternoon (Hayman’s Old Tom, Earl Grey-infused John L. Sullivan, Rothman & Winters Orchard Apricot, Dolin Dry, Peychaud’s) $10
The Bare Knuckle Boxer (House-blended madras-curry-infused John L. Sullivan, Rothman & Winters Orchard Apricot, Dolin Dry, Peychaud’s) $10
Dutch Courage (Bols Genever, yellow Chartreuse, fresh rosemary, lemon, rosemary tincture, egg white) $12
Coup d’État (Pineau des Charentes, Cava, lemon, cinnamon tincture) $10
Daiquiri Mélange (Rhum JM élevé sous bois, Averna, lime, chicory tincture) $12
Pimm’s Cup No. 13 (Pimm’s No. 1, your choice of spirit, English cucumber, mint, lemon, ginger, Angostura, seltzer) $10
Le Cheval Noir (Calvados, Leopold Brothers Three Pins, hot water, house-made quatre epices/honey syrup, lemon) $12