Rataj Berard
It’s not too late to catch summer in a glass with a Pimm’s Cup at A Pig in a Fur Coat. Perhaps the quintessential (and original) garden-to-glass cocktail, the drink is built around Pimm’s #1, a tea-colored gin-based liqueur that was invented by the owner of a British oyster bar; it’s been sold commercially since 1859, when it was first promoted by bicycle hawkers on the streets of London.
At A Pig in a Fur Coat, it’s a classic version thanks to bartender Steven Doty — who trained first as a chef — and who has been popping up at some of Madison’s better cocktail spots (Rare Steakhouse, Oliver’s). Doty took over from Stephanie Sudduth, who launched the cocktail program this spring.
The drink features a cucumber coin hoisted on the edge of the glass for a suitably refreshing drink that is lemon juice, ginger beer and Pimm’s #1 served in a good-sized goblet. If you make the drink at home, you can also add strawberry and mint. The light spice notes of the Pimm’s pairs with the citrus for an ethereal English sangria, a favorite at Wimbledon and a must if you’re sitting at the Tate Modern overlooking the Thames River. Or gazing out upon Willy Street.
