For the perfect summer drink, the perfect trinity is required: ice, flavor and alcohol. Unfortunately, few Shanghai drinks fit the bill. But as the weather heats up, you’ll notice one drink appearing on menus around town: the Pimm’s Cup.

In summer, ice content makes or breaks a drink. A hot weather sipper needs enough ice to keep it cold in the hot sun, but not so much that it douses the booze and flavor. France’s Loic Steineger, a master bartender touring Shanghai for the summer, explains, “I suggest Pimm’s Cup to customers on a hot day because it’s refreshing.” Although you might think the bar’s trying to skimp by packing in the ice, a cup full of the cold stuff is exactly what you should look for when ordering.

M1NT’s Damien Fenoli (formerly of Manifesto) explains that Pimm’s Cup is a summer favorite “because of its perfect balance of flavor and freshness.”

As the ice melts, the flavor is diluted so you need to start with something with a stronger flavor. A Pimm’s Cup, with its simple mix of Pimm’s, lemonade and a cucumber garnish, offers distinct flavors that are hard to water down. The cucumber is an absolute must, although other fruits are sometimes included for additional flavor. For that extra kick, good matches are strawberry, orange, peach or grapefruit. A tasty peach variation is available at the newly opened The Fat Olive whose terrace is worthy of a few hours of your Sunday afternoon.

In addition to changing the fruit base, the Pimm’s mixer can also be alternated to make a variation on the classic. Swap lemonade for ginger beer and you have a Pimm’s Rangoon. Add in Champagne and you have a Pimm’s Royale. Several bars around town are offering Pimm’s variations. Yan Callan, bar manager at Sasha’s, recently put Pimm’s Rangoon on the new summer menu. And, he declares, “We serve your Pimm’s drinks in jugs because it’s addictive.”

Whatever base you choose, a Pimm’s Cup and its brethren have a lower alcohol content ensuring that you don’t get dehydrated. “If you want something to drink during the day,” Steineger sagely advises, “Pimm’s won’t slow you down for a big night out.”

By Dean Callan