Today, Plymouth—one of the world’s classic gin brands—makes its sloe gin from a recipe dating from 1883. the moment after combining the ingredients another walk to the hedge in December to cut some twigs for the final sloe gin photo Dippelsdorfer Teich. Sloe gin is typically made with sugar and therefore is a much sweeter taste than the usual bitterness we expect from gin. ... Great mixed for a cocktail recipe or to sip neat, Gordon’s Sloe Gin is the one to beat. Rich berry red in colour and sweet to taste, sloe gin is the perfect winter warming tipple when the weather starts to turn a little nippier. If you did fancy trying something closer to the Long Pedlar try adding 50ml sloe gin to a Copa glass with ice, slowly top up with 150ml of Sicilian Lemon Tonic Water (more bitter than the Lemon Tonic Water) and garnish with a lemon slice. Pomegranate juice merges with sloe gin to create an even deeper red colour and adding pomegranate seeds and a simple green herbal garnish can make this an attractive Xmas tipple. If you can wait, store the bottles in … My hosts loved the stuff, and de gustibus non est disputandum - I hated it. An aperitif is a pre-meal drink designed to excite the senses and prepare an appetite (think of an aperitif as a drinkable appetizer). That’s one way to get the party started. How to drink Gin? Mixing gin and soda water together adds just a bit of buzz to the drink [ Here, try our recipe to our Gin rickey ]. The sloe gin is now ready to drink, but the flavour will improve and mature over time. Sloe gin is traditionally sipped neat or as a hot toddy cocktail according to Joanne, but it works lovely chilled too. You’ll typically find them at between 20-30% ABV. Try it in a Negroni for a burst of fruit, or maybe a French 75 to add a layer of rich complexity. In one of these delicious sloe gin cocktails. Sloe gin is absolutely delicious on its own, whether neat or on ice. The result is a rich and warming sloe gin that balances out the tartness with mulberries. You may experience some unpleasant side effects if drink gin every night with tonic water. Sloe gin cocktails can come in all shapes and sizes but the simple addition of Prosecco really elevates the drink into something of a celebration. 25ml Sloe gin 25ml Four Pillars shiraz barrel aged gin Juice of half a lemon 1 egg white 2 dashes angostura bitters Top up with soda. Homemade sloe gin is less alcoholic than regular gin. Sloe gin is a London dry gin infused with sloe drupes or sloes, the berries of a blackthorn bush. Lovely stuff - if you don't want it, I'll have it. Want to make a longer drink? Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @theginkin, or on Instagram at @theginkin. Best enjoyed neat or on ice, for a long drink, bitter lemon or lemon flavoured tonic works really well. Cointreau can be consumed—either neat … Williams Chase Sloe & Mulberry Gin has a lovely rich flavour with a sweet yet slight tartness to it. When not at her day job in marketing, she can often be found in various Gin joints across London, Martini in hand. Then there's sloe gin, which technically isn't a gin at all – it's a liqueur, not a spirit. This means it doesn’t have to match the alcohol volume of a spirit. The liquid should now be ruby red and ready for drinking. Maybe with a little twist. Can homemade sloe gin go bad? The addition of lemonade makes for a light and refreshing drink that’s suitable all year round. In the early days of Sloe Gin brewing, the drink was an outlaw concoction made at home and was liable to put you in a 3-day hangover. Strain the drink … Flaviar is a band of spirits enthusiasts, inspired by culture, rich history and the art of distillation. Sloe gin also has a different main ingredient. December 26 is Boxing Day! Like Bar Hill, this gin has a silkier texture, though a warm burn on the finish really … Redcurrant gin tastes a bit like sloe gin, so if you’re a fan of sloe gin (and our really easy to make sloe gin recipe!) You won’t find juniper berries in sloe gin, instead, unsurprisingly, sloe berries are the dominant botanical and it’s these berries that impart that rich red colour. Although they share ‘gin’ in the name, sloe gin is actually a liqueur. Mulled with spices for a warming festive treat. And since most of us probably have a bottle of lemonade in the kitchen this is a very simple – and tasty- mixer solution. Colder weather and dark evenings call for a warming drink, and while. In a champagne flute, topped up with prosecco or champagne. “These days, a lot … Stick a little lime garnish on top and you’ve got an incredibly easy and classy sloe gin cocktail. This pairing is a real festive cracker! Add ice and shake further. Simply add 50ml of sloe gin, 100ml cloudy apple juice, 100ml clementine juice, a cinnamon stick, 1tsp vanilla extract, 3 whole cloves and a clove-studded orange wheel heated together for the ultimate wintry treat. Juniper berries are an incredibly healthy fruit that carry a multitude of medicinal benefits. Top up with elderflower juice. Times have changed since the dark era of 1920's Prohibition, when the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages was outlawed. But it also adds a rich fruitiness to your favourite gin cocktails. Redcurrant gin might take two - three months to mature, but you'll have to trust us when we say it is well worth the wait! I drink my whiskey neat, but I've had a hard time drinking gins the same way, unless chilled a little bit. Try this Sloe Gin … Gin is a spirit and as such has to be at least 37.5% ABV. Place the sloe gin, lemon juice, simple syrup and egg white in a cocktail shaker. Sloe gin is delicious drunk neat, or with a cube of ice when the sun is out. If you are entertaining guests over the festive period you can mix sloe gin and pomegranate juice, pour into Champagne glasses and top up with Prosecco or Champagne. Price: £14.50. But it had the bad luck of also being a phenomenal base for cocktails, particularly the martini and the gin and tonic. It’s a shame that sloe gin can be revered for a few weeks over the festive period and then put back in the cupboard and forgotten about. You’ll need just three ingredients for this recipe – and plenty of patience. You are what you drink, diversity and quality matter and all that should most certainly be enjoyed with style and in good company. The best way to drink sloe gin is neat (it is not as alcoholic as ordinary gin, with an ABV of 26%), in a small glass, so that's how we first tasted it. Bitter lemon is normally used for that drink but here we’re suggesting Fever Tree Lemon Tonic Water which is slightly sweeter. My favorite spirits are bourbon/rye/whisky and gin. Your Quick Guide to Gin Styles and How to Use Them. We delight in cooking adventurously using unusual, locally foraged ingredients. Sloe gin is less traditional than gin and therefore less bound by mixing norms such as the view that gin should only be mixed with tonic water, so let’s look at some sloe gin mixers and get creative with this versatile drink. Neat (in small doses) or add bitter lemon and ice. Plus you get the added bonus of the brilliant bright red colour. In contrast, a digestif is post-meal drink that is designed to help the body digest a meal. In the States, that means hangovers little to most, but in Her Royal Majesty’s Empire, the calendar square is reserved for sport, goodwill to man, and drinking sloe gin. Method. I’ll be mixing up a couple of these drinks when Friday rolls ’round. Try a splash of ginger ale. Consider this a gin, rather than a liqueur, and you’ll be fine. Gordon's Sloe Gin. Add your sloe gin, simple syrup, lemon juice and egg white if using (this will create a beautiful white foam on the top of your cocktail) to a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake vigorously for 30 seconds. So, if you want to drink gin every night, at least avoid sloe gin drinks. As such, it’s colourless, fairly dry and packs a punch at 43%, so unless you normally sip your gin neat, this is best explored as a long drink or in a cocktail, where the fruitiness can really shine. Neat! Strain the gin through a sieve or funnel lined with a square of muslin into a jug or bowl. You can read exactly how we store and manage your personal information in our Privacy Policy. When we moved to the countryside drinks, jams and jellies were added to our repertoire. Inspired by the Frost Fairs on the River Thames over 150 years ago, our Spiced Sloe Gin combines the warming spices of cinnamon, nutmeg and star anise with our award-winning Sloe Gin. First of, sloe gin can actually tasted neat, but it also makes a mean hot toddy. Most shop-bought varieties are about 26% – 30% whereas gin is typically around 40%. Because not All Gin was Created Equal. A post shared by Janet (@petals_n_paws) on, A post shared by Sipsmith Gin (@sipsmith) on, A post shared by Sacred Spirits (@sacredgin) on, A post shared by The Ginfluencer | G&T and more (@ginfluencers) on, READ MORE ABOUT: sloe gin, gin, liqueur, recipe, sipsmith, sacred, 58 gin, how to. Strain all ingredients into a highball glass. And, the beverage was once as synonymous with England as tea or mad dogs in the midday sun. Chilled, over ice. Flaviar is a band of spirits enthusiasts, inspired by culture, rich history and the art of distillation. If you are hoping to reduce the sugars in your drink – perhaps to cut a few calories to avoid breaking your diet, then a gin and soda water combination may be ideal. Glass: Champagne coupe or martini glass. Sloe Berries, the raw ingredient behind Sloe Gin. A really interesting mix this, not too sweet, not too sour and very refreshing. This combination is actually a take on a traditional west country cocktail called a Long Pedlar. These super berries are… How to drink sloe gin. To me, this is the best way to enjoy the complexities of this very traditional British Christmas/winter drink. Decant into clean, dry bottles, then seal and label. Shutterstock. Sloe Gin Fizz. Strain into a long glass such as a champagne flute or highball glass, then top up with … How do you drink or serve sloe gin? Your data is private and secure. How to Drink Sloe Gin. If you’d prefer an all-year round treat, however, we may have some alternative mixer ideas…. Gin was once a common straight drink, up through the 19th century. Images from Shutterstock unless otherwise stated. In a hot toddy. Sloe gin … Sometimes the most simple things in life are the best. Method: Shake all ingredients (except the elderflower juice) with ice in a cocktail shaker. If you stir your gin and tonic vigorously, you'll lose some of the … Fill the shaker with ice and shake for 30 seconds until cold. Sloe gin is quite different. My last experience of homemade alcohol (now happily distant) was of sloe gin served neat in tiny glasses. Made with a base of Williams GB Extra Dry Gin, Chase also adds mulberries to their sloe gin and then ages it for one year in Rhone Valley red wine casks. Because of the lower alcohol content, sloe gin is often drunk neat. There were two samples. Best alternatives to Gin & Tonic, 6 Places in London You Should Go to for the Ultimate Gin Experience, If You can only Stand Gin in a G&T, You Simply Haven’t Tasted a Gin You Like, Bourbon Gifts You'll Be Tempted Not to Give, 9 Questions About Scotch People Secretly Google All the Time, Rumarkable Christmas Gifts For The Rum-Heads. How did you first discover the joy of homemade sloe gin? Add the lemon, sloe gin, shiraz gin and egg white to a cocktail shaker without ice and shake hard to froth the egg. Cocktail-wise this is similar to a Ginger Mule which has added sugar syrup so you can add that if you have a sweet tooth. How to drink Sloe Gin Make like the British aristocracy and sip it neat, or try it chilled over ice to cut through some of the syrupyness. Unfortunately, the industry is still stuck in the 20th century and we're taking it into the 21st with the spirit of speakeasy.... more inside. Gin and ginger is a delicious combination, and the easiest way to pair the … “Don’t be afraid to drink gin neat,” says Smith. First of, sloe gin can actually tasted neat, but it also makes a mean hot toddy. I really enjoy this gin neat but it’s nice to have a longer drink so I’ll be mixing mine with tonic. You could even make a cocktail by adding a drop to champagne. Here, she'll show you how to make that autumnal classic - sloe gin - with Bombay London Dry Gin, fresh sloe berries and sugar. It also has to feature juniper berries as an ingredient (normally prominent in the botanical list) to be classed as gin. So there's my preference: stirred/chilled over ice with a twist. Shake vigorously for 15 seconds. Also, don't stir your gin and tonic. Delicious served on its own as a winter warmer, with sparkling wine or as a hot serve with apple juice. A delicious lightly sweetened, fruity sloe gin with warming winter spices. A post shared by Sipsmith Gin (@sipsmith), A post shared by Sacred Spirits (@sacredgin), A post shared by The Ginfluencer | G&T and more (@ginfluencers), The Perfect Christmas Gifts for the Gin Lover in Your Life. OK so not strictly a mixer – if anything we’re adding alcohol content, but sloe gin and fizz just works so well together. Sloe gin and Damson vodka quickly became our favourites. Speaking of Christmas, it makes the perfect foodie gift, in little bottles, all dressed up for the holiday season. then you’ll love this delicious cocktail. Homemade sloe gin will last for years as alcohol acts as a preservative. We may use your email to notify you about Club updates and other offers from Flaviar. Emma is a huge enthusiast of all things juniper based – a ginthusiast, if you will – so much so that you can find her Gin musings over at TheGinthusiast.com. Sloe Gin … Simply add 50ml of sloe gin, 100ml cloudy apple juice, 100ml clementine juice, a cinnamon stick, 1tsp vanilla extract, 3 whole cloves and a clove-studded orange wheel heated together for the ultimate wintry treat. Jenny and I have always been fond of food (and drink!). But we suggest ginger beer and an orange slice to garnish for a fruity and fiery combo. At about 26 percent ABV, sloe gin drinks like a fruit liqueur, rather than a gin. Serve the sloe gin neat, over ice or drizzle over ice cream. Don’t Be Afraid to Drink Gin Neat. So completely different, but I think they share complexity in flavor than any other spirits. It's common to mix alcohol with seltzer water, club soda, and tonic water — but they're all very different things. Pour a little into a tumbler and sip as a beautiful digestif. By entering you confirm to be at least 21 years of age. It’s a delicious tipple that can be enjoyed any time of year and with the right sloe gin mixer we aim to keep it on the table all year round. It's really simple to make, is a wonderful, homemade Christmas present and delicious sipped neat or used as an ingredient in cocktails. If you have a story suggestion email editor@theginkin.com, The Gin Kin promotes responsible drinking, Enjoy Sloe Gin All-Year Round With These Top 5 Sloe Gin Mixers, Here's How Make Your Own Winter Gin From 'Christmas Trees', Prosecco and Sloe Gin Cocktails, with Boodles Mulberry Gin, Make the Perfect Sloe Gin with These Simple Steps. We forage the World of Spirits for the finest, rarest and most unique expressions out there and pack it all into a 21st century Members Club. Ginger beer rather than ginger ale is preferred because we want the fiery punch of the root ginger to kick through. Filliers Dry Gin 28. Check Availability.