Sloe Gin Mixed Drink Recipes

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Sloes are tiny berries that grow wild in hedgerows around England. Unpleasantly astringent on their own, they are popular in sweetened jams and preserves, and they develop a rich, tart flavor when infused in gin. Naturally, enterprising distillers have been incorporating them into since the 17th century. The spirit takes on the essence and bright color of the berries, and then sugar is typically added to counter the fruit’s tartness. What’s left is not technically gin, but actually a gin-based liqueur.

To experience the authentic flavor of sloe berries, use a British-style sloe gin, such as Plymouth, Hayman’s or Sipsmith. Most sloe gins are less boozy than their unflavored counterparts, and it’s common for them to clock in around 25% to 30% ABV.

Cocktail Friday: Sloe Gin Pink Lady

The British traditionally used sloe gin in wintry drinks, but it’s become most famous for its turn in America’s refreshing Sloe Gin Fizz, where it’s paired with club soda, citrus and simple syrup. This synergistic combo yields a cocktail that is sharp and quaffable, with sloe gin’s characteristic reddish purple hue.

The Sloe Gin Fizz is certainly the most famous and craft-focused cocktail to utilize the colorful spirit, but sloe gin can also be found in ’80s-era favorites like the Alabama Slammer. However, while that college staple may feature the liqueur, it doesn’t highlight it front-and-center like the fizz.

The Sloe Gin Fizz is a breezy take on the classic Gin Fizz, which uses a not-sloe variety as its base. While most Gin Fizzes employ egg white for a silky texture and creamy head, the sloe version often skips this protein-packed ingredient. However, that doesn’t mean you have to. If you’d like to add egg white to your drink, simply shake all the ingredients without ice to emulsify the egg with the liquids, then shake again with ice to chill the drink. You’ll be left with the same refreshing cocktail you know and love, but one that’s sporting a richer body and thicker head.

Sloe Gin Cocktail Recipes
— Nelson + Pops

Another easy way to experiment with the cocktail is by splitting the base between sloe gin and dry gin. This results in a cocktail that walks the line between a Gin Fizz and Sloe Gin Fizz, with milder berry notes and a fainter color—but one that still features the same easy-drinking sensibilities.

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Mulled Sloe Gin & Cloudy Apple Juice

Here at Craft Gin Club, though, we’re all about discovery when it comes to gin, and sloe gin is also a fantastically versatile liqueur that can be used to create a whole range of delicious cocktails.

Traditionally, sloe gin is drunk neat, over ice (on the rocks) or mixed into warm cocktails like a Hot Toddy - scroll down to find our mouthwatering Mulled Sloe Gin Hot Toddy recipe.

However, sloe gin can go with many different mixers. It goes particularly well with light, bubbly mixers with citrus notes that can contrast and elevate the rich, berry tones of the gin - think Indian tonic, prosecco and lemonade.

Sloe Gin Fizz Cocktail. Pink Cold Alcohol Drink With Ice, Lime And Soda, Copy Space Stock Photo

Then you need to think about garnishes. We think sloe gin goes best with zesty and herbaceous garnishes like slices of fresh citrus fruit and rosemary. Both help to elevate the deep, fragrant gin liqueur.

The best way to find an ideal sloe gin, mixer and garnish combination for you is to experiment. You are safe starting with any mixer classically paired with London dry gin. From there, the world is your oyster.

And if you’re still unsure how to drink your sloe gin, worry not. Give the fantastic cocktail recipes below a go and you will master sloe gin in no time.

Best Sloe Gin Cocktails To Drink In 2023

Then garnish with lemon or lime slices and fresh rosemary for a delicious yet simple sloe gin and tonic. You can find the perfect sloe gin and tonic recipe here!

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. Strain into a long glass such as a champagne flute or highball glass, then top up with champagne.

Add the gin, lemon juice, syrup, bitters and egg white to a shaker and shake well. Add ice and shake well again. Strain into a coupe glass. Garnish, serve and enjoy!

Charlie Chaplin Cocktail Recipe

Muddle the limoncello and rosemary in a cocktail shaker. Add ice and sloe gin, then shake vigorously until well chilled. Strain into your glass filled with ice. Top with sparkling water. Garnish, serve and enjoy!

Pour sparkling wine into a chilled flute glass. Lightly bruise a rosemary sprig before dropping it into the glass. Slowly pour in the sloe gin and cherry brandy so they sink to the bottom.

Warmed sloe gin and apple juice infused with festive spices - this rich, sweet and utterly delicious winter drink is the new mulled wine! Get the full recipe here. >>

Sloe Gin & Tonic Rezept

We’ve take a classic Sloe Gin Collins and given it a delicious added layer of flavour, with the addition of a slightly sweet, lightly floral elderflower mixer in place of the usual soda water. The perfect taste of summer in a glass, all year round! Get the recipe here >>

If you thought that traditional hot chocolate was as good a warm winter recipe as you can get, think again: this subtly spiced version, spiked with sweet, richly fruity sloe gin, is absolutely incredible. Gin-credible. Get the recipe here! >>

If you haven’t tried this tasty tipple yet, just picture fruity red wine and rich sloe berries warmed with festive spices like cinnamon, star anise and ginger. Get the recipe here >>

Sloe Gin Highball

In this easy cocktail recipe, the sweetness of sloe gin pairs beautifully with the sharp citrus juice, and that rich sloe flavour takes on an even deeper, richer note from the addition of a splash of Maraschino cherry liqueur. Get the full recipe here! >>

It’s easy to make sloe gin at home - why not try our quick and easy recipe? Alternatively, pick up a bottle of (professionally made!) beautiful sloe gin from our online shop to use in any of these fabulous cocktail recipes!

Sloe gin should stay drinkable for at least a year after the bottle is opened, provided that it is kept in an air-tight container, in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight. This is because of its high alcohol content.

Best Sloe Gin: Fruity Liqueurs For Cocktails And Sipping Neat

However, the quality of sloe gin can degrade over time. You may notice the liquid becoming cloudy, with sediment forming in the bottom of the container, the longer it is left. This may happen faster with homemade sloe gins.

With sloe gin cocktails like the ones above to try, it is rare that a bottle of sloe gin will last longer than a month, never mind a year, here at Craft Gin Club HQ.

Tagged: Autumn Cocktails, Winter Cocktails, Negronis, NDC Heritage Gin, The National Distillery Company, gin and cherry, gin and amaretto, gin and Campari, cherry cocktails

Sloe Gin Cocktail Recipes For The Festive Season

Tagged: Featured Negroni, Featured Classic, gin and red vermouth, Classic Cocktails, A-Z of Classic Gin Cocktails, Featured Social, Cocktail month, World Cocktail Day, gin and orange, gin and Campari, Negroni