Pimms Winter Wonderland Cocktail Recipe

When the weather gets chilly, I always find myself craving a drink that’s cozy but still has a little brightness to it. That’s honestly why I keep coming back to the Pimms Winter Wonderland Cocktail.

This winter cocktail is such a fun twist on the classic Pimm’s cup—it’s warm, seasonal, and just works for holiday parties or those nights when you’re curled up at home.

What I love about this drink is the way it balances fruity flavors with just a hint of spice. It’s not tricky to make, and you don’t need a bunch of fancy stuff.

It ends up feeling festive but not heavy, which is a nice change from a lot of winter cocktails out there.

Pimms Winter Wonderland Cocktail Recipe

I keep making this one because it’s got those warm, seasonal flavors, but you still get the refreshing kick from Pimm’s No. 1. There’s fruit, a little bit of spice, and some sweetness—simple and festive, honestly.

Equipment

• Highball glass or, if you’re making it for a crowd, a large punch bowl
• Mixing spoon for giving everything a good stir
• Measuring jigger to keep your pours on point
• Sharp knife for slicing up oranges, apples, lemons—whatever fruit you’re using
• Cutting board for prepping your garnishes
• Small saucepan if you feel like warming up the apple cider or making syrup
• Strainer if you want to get rid of pulp or any spice bits
• Ice scoop for tossing in clean ice cubes
• Cocktail picks to skewer fruit or maybe a sprig of rosemary

Having these tools around just makes things smoother. Plus, it helps the drinks look a bit more put together, especially if you’re making a bunch.

Ingredients

• 2 oz Pimm’s No. 1 liqueur (that classic gin-based stuff with herbs and spices)
• 1 oz brandy for a little extra warmth
• 2 oz apple cider or apple juice
• 2 oz ginger ale or ginger beer
• 1/2 oz lemon juice (fresh is best if you ask me)
• 1/2 oz simple syrup (totally optional, if you want it sweeter)
• Orange slices
• Apple slices
• Cranberries (fresh or frozen, doesn’t matter)
• Cinnamon stick
• Rosemary sprig for garnish

Fresh fruit really makes a difference here. It just pops more, both in flavor and color.

The combo of citrus, apple, and spice is what gives this drink its wintery vibe.

Instructions

• Fill up your highball glass or punch bowl with ice.
• Pour in the Pimm’s No. 1 and the brandy.
• Next, add the apple cider and lemon juice.
• Stir everything gently so it mixes but doesn’t lose all its fizz.
• Top off with your choice of ginger ale or ginger beer.
• Toss in some orange slices, apple slices, and cranberries.
• Stick a cinnamon stick in there.
• Garnish with a rosemary sprig on top.
• Taste it—add a little simple syrup if you want it sweeter.

I usually stir just enough to keep the bubbles lively. The fruit should float up and make the drink look super inviting.

Notes

Sometimes I go for apple cider if I want a deeper, richer flavor, but apple juice is nice if you want something lighter. Both actually work, but cider is just more “winter” to me.

If I’m making this as a punch, I’ll double or triple the recipe and throw in extra fruit so it looks really full and festive.

Cranberries and rosemary are honestly what make this drink look like it belongs at a holiday party. If I want more spice, I’ll swap ginger ale for ginger beer.

The cinnamon stick? Don’t skip it—it pulls the apple and orange flavors together and just smells amazing while you sip.

Tasting Notes

So, when I take my first sip, there’s this gentle warmth from the spices. The cinnamon and cloves are there, but thankfully, they don’t smack you in the face.

It’s more of a cozy vibe than anything heavy-handed. Then the fruit flavors start to show up.

I get crisp apple right away, and there’s a hint of orange that sneaks in, adding just a bit of sweetness to balance out the spice.

There’s also this light herbal thing going on, probably thanks to the Pimm’s. It gives the drink a little more depth and stops it from tipping into sugary territory.

The texture? It’s smooth, maybe even a touch rich. The warm base makes it something you want to sip slowly—especially if it’s chilly out.