Pimm's Cup

I spent some time in England and drank more than my weight of this quintessential British summer drink. I like to fortify the drink with a bit of gin.

2 oz Pimm's
1/2 oz Gin (optional)
Sparkling Lemonade (or Ginger Ale)

Fill a hi-ball with ice, add the Pimm's and gin, top with sparkling lemonade. Garnish with a slice of lemon, a slice of cucumber, and a sprig of mint.

Many bars use 7-Up (absolutely not Sprite) in place of the sparkling lemonade, but I think the lemon-lime corn syrup is a disservice to the Pimm's and everything else. Sparkling lemonade comes in two varieties - one clear and one slightly opaque due to the addition of lemon juice and pulp - go with the opaque one. Ginger ale also makes a nice variation - look for one with cane sugar in place of corn syrup, such as Boylan's.

Enjoy.