Fruit cups

Fruit Cups (or Summer Cups) are traditionally an English speciality drink designed to be made into a long drink with addition of a soft drink such lemonade or ginger ale. Most commonly gin based although there are some varieties based on other spirits such as vodka. The base gin is then flavoured with various herbs, spices, fruit, and botanicals as well as its strength reduced. Fruit cups are typically marketed for the summer months although many are now available all year round. Most fruit cup producers suggest adding fruit as a garnish to the drink and to improve the flavour, recommendations include: Apple, Orange, Strawberry, Lemon, Lime, Cucumber, Mint, and Borage leaves.

The term Fruit Cups is also often commonly used to refer to a small portion of fruit salad.

Varieties

Below is a list of summer or fruit cups currently available in stores:

Austen's Fruit Cup

A fruit flavour aromatised wine, available in 70cL bottles at 21.9% ABV, it is a blend of wine, grain spirit, and fruit flavour and is packed and distributed by Aldi. Austen's logo features a chap in a bow tie, top hat, and monocle.

Pimm's Fruit Cup

Pimm's No.1 is a gin-based drink invented by James Pimms, at 25% ABV. Pimms numbers 2-6 were based on Scotch Whisky, Brandy, Rum, Rye whiskey, and Vodka, respectively. As of 2007, only No.1, No.6, and a variant of No.3 still survive.

Plymouth Fruit Cup

Launched in 2003 and produced by the makers of Plymouth Gin, it is one of the strongest fruit cups at 30% ABV, which Plymouth says gives it a fuller flavour. It is the result of the base of Plymouth Gin being mixed with fruit liqueurs, vermouths, aromatic bitters and citrus extracts.

tone's Summer Cup

Introduced in 2006, produced by the same makers of Stone's Ginger wine it is based on a traditional recipe and retains a traditional ginger note. Available in 70cL bottles with a strength of 13.5% ABV.

External links

* [http://www.stonessummercup.com Official Stone's Summer Cup Webpage]
* [http://plymouthgin.com/ Official Plymouth Gin Webpage title]
* [http://www2.anyoneforpimms.com/ Official Pimms Website title]