Sloe gin: what it is and how to drink it

Sloe gin is a sweet, ruby-red liqueur made by steeping sloe berries, the fruit of the blackthorn bush, in gin with sugar. It sits between a dry gin and a fruit liqueur, and it is usually sipped, stirred into cocktails or topped with something sparkling. Stock changes, so the gin page at CBC Liquors in Westford shows what is on the shelf right now.

What is sloe gin?

Sloe gin is a liqueur, not a dry gin. Sloes are small, tart, dark purple berries that grow on the blackthorn, a thorny shrub common in British and Irish hedgerows. Raw, they are almost too sour and astringent to eat.

To make sloe gin, the berries are steeped in gin with sugar for weeks or months. The gin pulls out colour and flavour, the sugar softens the sourness, and the result is a deep red drink with notes of plum, cherry and almond-like stone fruit.

Traditionally the berries are picked in autumn after the first frost, then left to steep through the colder months so the drink is ready by the holidays. That is why sloe gin has a reputation as a seasonal bottle, though nothing stops you from drinking it all year.

How is sloe gin different from regular gin?

Regular gin is a clear spirit flavoured mainly with juniper plus other botanicals such as citrus peel, coriander and angelica. It is dry and aromatic. Sloe gin starts from that base but ends up as something quite different in the glass.

The main differences are sweetness, colour and strength. Sloe gin is sugared, so it drinks like a liqueur. It is a deep pink to burgundy colour rather than clear. And it is usually bottled at a lower strength than a standard dry gin, so it is gentler to sip.

If you are standing in front of the shelf and not sure which you are holding, read the label: sloe gin will say so plainly, while a London dry will not. The liqueur section is another place where fruit-based bottles of this kind sit.

How do you drink sloe gin?

The simplest way is neat or over ice in a small glass, which lets the plum and berry flavours come through. Some people chill the bottle first and pour it like a dessert drink.

For something longer, top it with tonic or soda water. The bitterness of tonic balances the sweetness and gives you a tall, pink drink that is easy to make for a few people. A squeeze of lemon helps.

Sloe gin also works with sparkling wine. A measure in the bottom of a flute with a dry sparkling wine on top is a classic way to start a holiday gathering. You can browse sparkling wine if that is the plan.

In the colder months, a splash in hot tea or warmed with a strip of orange peel is another way people use it. Whatever you choose, pour sensibly and keep it to a measure or two.

Can you use regular gin if you cannot find sloe gin?

If you cannot get sloe gin, you can still build a drink with a similar feel. Start with a good dry gin for the botanical backbone, then add a splash of a berry or cherry liqueur and a little sugar syrup to bring it toward the sweetness of sloe gin.

It will not taste the same, since the tart, almond-edged character of the sloe berry is hard to copy, but it will be close enough for a fizz or a long drink.

For the gin itself, a classic like Tanqueray London Dry or Bombay Sapphire gives you a clean juniper base. If you prefer something a bit softer and more floral, HENDRICKS Gin works well with berry flavours. Barr Hill Gin is another option for a rounder, slightly sweeter gin.

How to check for sloe gin at CBC Liquors

Stock changes from week to week, so the most reliable way to find out is to look at the gin page, which shows what is in now. Open the gin category and scan the listings for anything labelled sloe.

If you would rather speak to someone, CBC Liquors at 142 Littleton Rd, Westford is open Sunday 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Monday to Thursday 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and Friday and Saturday 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM. You can ask at the counter whether a particular bottle is available or can be looked for.

Besides walking in, the shop offers pickup, delivery and shipping. If you are in Chelmsford, Acton, Littleton, Lowell or one of the other towns served, the delivery areas page shows where delivery reaches, and you can see Liquor Delivery in Acton or Liquor Delivery in Chelmsford for your town.

What mixers go with sloe gin?

Tonic and soda water are the two most common partners, and ginger beer is another option some people like for a spicier drink. Each lets the fruit flavour through without hiding it.

Mixers such as tonic or soda may be worth looking for in the mixers section, and it is worth checking what is in now before you plan a drink around a specific brand.

A few other pairings are worth knowing. Lemon juice cuts through the sweetness. A dry sparkling wine turns it into a fizz. And a little orange or a few drops of bitters adds depth if you are stirring it into something short.

How should you store sloe gin?

Because sloe gin is sweetened and has a lower alcohol content than dry gin, it is a little more sensitive to being left open for a long time. Keep the bottle sealed, away from direct sunlight and heat, and away from a sunny window or stovetop.

An unopened bottle keeps well in a cupboard. Once opened, it is fine to leave at room temperature, though many people prefer to keep it in the fridge so it pours cold. The colour can fade slowly over a long time, and the flavour softens, so it is best enjoyed within a reasonable period after opening.

If you are giving a bottle as a present, a gift card is another option from the shop: see gift cards.

Is it worth making sloe gin at home?

Plenty of people do, and it is a rewarding project. You need sloe berries, a bottle of gin, sugar and a clean jar. The berries are pricked or frozen to split the skins, then combined with the gin and sugar and shaken regularly for the first few weeks.

The liquid is left to steep for a few months and then strained and bottled. The longer it rests, the smoother it tends to become.

A basic, unflavoured dry gin is all you need as the base, so a bottle like New Amsterdam Stratusphere Gin or Bombay Gin London Dry would do the job. It is also worth browsing the gin category for other styles if you want to experiment.