3 summer fruit cups you have to try

It’s unusual that while so many people drink Pimms, so few know that it has a gin base. More unusual is that until recently, it was the only readily available, drinkable Summer Fruit cup around.

Historically however, fantastic fruit gins with bright and refreshing fruit cups were commonplace. At the turn of the 1900’s, the likes of Gordon’s even had 8 different fruit infusions including mint, ginger and orange. Fruit Cups never quite took off in the same light as Sloe Gin although many bars and restaurants would have made their own multi-botanical summer infusion.

Perhaps the demise of the quintessentially British Summer Fruit Cup can be attributed to the rise in popularity of the G&T. Perhaps there was less need to add infusions to gin as the standards were improving so greatly, the spirits being produced were no longer as harsh. Its fall from grace is unclear but thankfully, this exile is coming to an end and a whole range of fruit cups have emerged to contend for a place in your picnic hamper. Having tasted his way through cup after cup, curating this list of the Top 3 Summer Fruit Cups To Try is Olivier Ward, Gin expert and Editor of Gin Foundry.

SIPSMITH SUMMER CUP

Sipsmith were one of the first distilleries to see the potential of this almost lost subcategory of spirits. Quietly, they went about taking a David vs Goliath task of launching their Fruit Cup in 2012 and for almost a year, they were the only real alternative to Pimm’s. Rows of red Pimm’s deckchairs advancing in fields vs the crafty positioning of Sipsmithian yellow loungers characterized a remarkably British and ever genteel battle at festivals across the summer season. While the Pimm’s supremacy remains unblemished, this little London made Summer Fruit Cup is now firmly established as an essential spirit for those in the know.

Sipsmith have made their fruit cup by blending Sipsmith London Dry Gin with a host of carefully selected summery ingredients including infusions of Earl Grey tea and lemon verbena. It’s fresh, light and not as artificial as Pimm’s. Quite simply, it’s delicious.

To buy click here, £20.95

PROFESSOR CORNELIUS AMPLEFORTH’S SUMMER FRUIT CUP, £25.95

Bolting onto the ever-popular Bathtub Gin range, Professor Cornelius Ampleforth’s Summer Fruit Cup is a blend of fine wines, spirits, fruits, herbs and spices all combined to create a fresh, fruity and superbly British tipple. Try saying that once you’ve had a couple! It’s been flying under the radar but as with all of their spirits range, it’s carefully balanced and bursting with flavour. The Professor’s Summer Fruit Cup is a great bottle to bring to a BBQ as most will not have heard of the Tunbridge Wells distillery, the packaging always creates intrigue amongst guests and crucially, the liquid never disappoints.

To buy click here, £25.95

CHASE FRUIT CUP

Chase Distillery is almost unique amongst British distilleries in their ability to grow their own ingredients. Along with wild botanicals, Chase Summer Fruit Cup combines a delectable blend of elderflowers and locally sourced raspberries and blackcurrants. The overall flavour is rich and juicy and arguably, more complex than the others on the market. As with their Sloe Gin, the addition of other botanicals to the core flavours one expects to find, in this case a burst of fresh red summery notes is rounded off by just the right amount of sweetness and a warming background taste of ginger and star anise.

Expect to see a lot more of Chase’s seasonal range over the next few years as the demand for more transparency on where ingredients are sourced from and how spirits are made continues to rise. They have provenance by the bucket load. This Summer Cup has pedigree but all the positive sentiment of ethical production aside – it also tastes damn good.

To buy click here, £21.99

by Olivier Ward