Sloe Gin and Sloe Gin Fizz

What is Sloe Gin?

Sloe Gin is made primarily from Gin and the sloes of the Sloe or Blackthorn tree, the sloes are particularly tart and only really have a sweet taste if picked after the first frost.

Sole Gin's range in alcoholic content from 15% ABV to 30% ABV however the EU has deemed all sloe gins can only be named sloe gin so long as their alcoholic content is a minimum of 25%ABV

How to make sloe gin?

The most traditional way to make sloe gin is to soak the sloes in gin, the Gin changes the ripe sloes from a tart flavour to a sweet morish drink. Nearly all recipes then require the addition of sugar to add extra sweetness.

Soles are picked during the first frost of winter and pricked with a thorn from the bush itself, however, more modern methods use picking earlier in the year pricking them and placing them in the freezer overnight.

To tell when your sloe gin is ready the gin will have matured into a ruby red colour, take the sole gin and passed through some muslin and discard the sloes leaving behind the sloe gin.

Sloe Gin recipe

Recipe

Method

Place 570g pricked sloes into a wide-necked preserve jar, add 110g of sugar, and fill the jar with gin ensuring to cover all the sloes. store in a cool dry place. Turn and mix the jar every day for the first two weeks, then once a week every week thereafter for at least three months.

What is sloe gin fizz?

Sloe gin fizz is a mixture of sloe gin, lemon and simple syrup(sugar). finished off with some soda water for the 'fizz'

Sloe gin fizz recipe

Recipe

How to make sloe gin fizz?

Add your sloe gin, regular gin, lemon juice and simple syrup(or sugar) to a large glass filled with ice, give it a stir and taste, and adjust sweetness with either more simple syrup or bitterness with lemon juice. Top up with soda water and enjoy!