As well as enjoying it straight you can add a splash of sloe gin to a glass of sparkling wine to make a foragers fizz, or use it as the base to a fruity G&T. So I add sugar to the sloes right at the start, as I do with all my other infusions. Its one of the reasons they tend to be expensive to buy in the supermarkets. The strained gin will keep for up to a year, during which, the taste will improve. Sign up for the FREE newsletter. I have never heard about the gin festival or about sloe gin. ), its been a dry, hot summer this year, for a change! To make gin, a neutral grain alcohol is distilled with juniper berries and other botanicals. Im not sure it noticeably improves after 2-3 months, Im not a gin drinker but I have infused before. We reveal all, right here! British sources often explain that sloe berries were preserved in Gin because the warm notes of juniper and coriander perfectly match the taste of the sloe berries. You have entered an incorrect email address! Its made in Scotland and has been enjoyed for over 200 years its probably the first bottle your parents had at their bar! Sloe Gin recipe; fruity, slightly sweet, with a touch of sour and a definite hint of bitter at the back of it all. How is Sloe Gin Different From Regular Gin? Give the jar a shake every so often over the next few days until the sugar has dissolved. This past summer, weve made quite a few infusions, just head on over to the Drinks Page for them. There is only one way to find out make lots and lots of it! Harvest sloe berries in autumn and make sloe gin that will be ready come Christmastime. Essentially, practically any gin cocktail can be adapted by using sloe gin instead of regular gin. If youve been following my drink recipes, weve had so many this year alone, in fact, I can probably open a fruity gin shop now! Its a type of liqueur made from gin and sloe berries, which are small red fruits similar to plums. @lab_interiors_ (on Instagram) is a Craft Gin Club member with a great gin storage solution. Twist the jar 180 degrees every other day for two to three months. After three months (some say two), the liqueur is ready for you spend, the more you progress. If youve eaten one, youll know what I mean. I keep meaning to pick them and make gin. What a treat. You must be logged in to rate a recipe, click here to login. Tagged: gin glasses, Shopping, pink gin cocktails, Tagged: Gin Recipe, Gin Baking, gin and raspberry, gin and chocolate, Eton mess, Tagged: pink gin cocktails, gin and tonic recipes, pink gin, Craft Gin, 2023, Sign up to our newsletter to receive your exclusive offer*. 3. As for why you should be drinking it? Think about dried chillies, raisins and all those other dried fruit that are sold everywhere. Sloe gin comes in different flavorsfrom sweet and jammy to tart and astringentand is typically between 15-30% ABV in strength. Do a google search and youre bound to come up with a few online suppliers, certainly if you are in the UK. In addition to the spices, fruits, and floral elements, you can make the recipe even more flavorful by combining them. Unlike wine, bottled gin doesnt get better with age! Its easy to enjoy, as you can sip it straight or mixed into cocktails such as a Sloe Gin Fizz or classic Bramble. They are often very sweet. Whether youre picking your own from the hedgerows, or using some defrosted frozen berries, the flavour of these fresh fruits infusing your gin is absolutely delicious! Add the blackberry gin and liqueur to the glass, top up with prosecco, and garnish with a few fresh berries. Your previous content has been restored. But, with a little preparation, and a lot of patience, theyll transform a plain old bottle of gin into a deeply delicious liqueur. More importantly, though, gin should never be served at room temperature! If an account was found for this email address, we've emailed you instructions to reset your password. Blackberry drinks and cocktails! Sloe Gin has a long tradition in Britain and has been a classic cocktail ingredient for ages. Your email address will not be published. We have so many sloes on the farm at the moment. After gathering your sloes, wash and remove any stems before pricking each sloe using a fork or cocktail stick. I hope this is OK to post! Wait (2 months minimum here), then strain and enjoy. Ah, gin. Like wine you plan to cook with, get something that you will enjoy drinking on its own and doesnt taste like rubbish. Now you can stay up to date with all the latest news, recipes and offers. To support this process, the jars should be turned regularly. The alcohol in sloe gin aids digestion by relaxing the muscles in your stomach and helping break down food this can help with bloating, cramps, and other digestive issues. Thanks for the tips! The sloes are soaked in the spirit for up to a year before being steeped in sugar or combined with sugar syrup. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This means that the resulting liqueur will always be slightly different each time, depending on many factors, such as the strength of the spirit and how long the sloes have been steeped. It makes for a Though theyre delicious on their own or baked into a pie, blackberries are great for preserving for the winter. Make sure your bottles are clean and the tops are secure. Add 100 grams of sugar (which is only half / a third of what you will need) 4. However, this shouldnt be too much of a problem as they are a versatile ingredient in the kitchen from crumble, pie and homemade jam, they even work in salads too. Add the sugar and slowly pour in your chosen gin. These days, we dont really see the first frost until November, especially down here, on the south coast of England. Serve! The sloes (the fruit!) Hi Rachel, in the past Ive left berries in for much longer than three months but they start to fade and break down. Given the recent gin revival movement in the U.K., sloe gin has become one of the most sought after drinks served during the holiday season. Leave the jar in an ambient dark place for three The liqueur matures in the jar for about three months and develops a deep red color. Keep an eye on your emails for your offer. Pasted as rich text. More DIY ginny goodness right this way Manchester Gins Blackberry Infused edition, Here's how to make your own gorgeous passion fruit gin at home, Here's how to make your own delicious rhubarb and ginger gin at home, How to make your own gin at home in 10 easy steps, How to make sloe gin: Our quick and easy recipe for homemade sloe gin liqueur. Make a batch of sloe gin to give as a gift or to keep in the cupboard. Keep for at least 3 months before serving ideally, pick the sloes in September and have the gin at Christmas. Sloe gin cocktailSloe royalesSloe mulled wine, Try your first 5 issues for only 5 today. Many thanks. Chill. You cant go wrong with sloe gin if youre looking for a unique and delicious drink to add to your repertoire. This will help slow the process of oxidisation because the gin will be less exposed to the air. I then add about 10 litres of boiling water to the sugar and using a long paddle, stir it through. Making sloe gin is very much a case of life in the sloe lane. Would love to try it, sounds so tasty! By signing up, you are agreeing to delicious. terms and conditions. I dont think Im up to the task of making my own gin, but this was a fun read! Blackberry gin is delicious served with your favourite tonic and a twist of lemon to garnish; alternatively, weve included a couple of serving suggestions below, including one for a sparkling Blackberry Gin Fizz, if youre feeling fancy! Get the authentic recipe PLUS I help you make perfect limoncello even if you can only get 37% vodka! If there hasnt been a frost when you pick your berries, you can replicate the frosty effect by popping the sloes in the freezer for a few hours before using. They are often very sweet. This is such a nice idea for a Christmas gift! Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com. After the first week you only need Sloe gin chocolates have traditionally been made from the fruit leftovers. Soak them in water before planting and water them in well. Place the jar in a dark place, like a kitchen cupboard. Required fields are marked *. Place the saved berries on a baking tray, pour over melted chocolate then place in the fridge until set. Traditionally, thorns of blackthorn bushes, but you can use any other thorn too. If possible, keep your gin in the fridge or, even better, the freezer. With juniper as its main botanical, it has more gin flavor than other sloe gins on this list. Thanks for sharing . However, since 2023, the European Union decided that the liqueur needs tocontain at least 25% ABVto carry the name. Here are some of the most popular: Gordons is the classic sloe gin that will likely come to mind when you think about this drink. When the gin tastes ready, strain the liquid through a fine mesh sieve or muslin cloth into a fresh bottle. I also make some chutney or jam, and also bake with the sloes, so they dont all go into the freezer. Ive tried both methods, and if truth be told, I cant tell the difference between the before and after. Subscribe to delicious. There are a few farms selling them on Ebay. Uomo; Donna. You can post now and register later. It looks so easy to do! The upside of this was that the farmers soon learned that all those sloe berries, with their tart nature, were perfect in pies, jams and alcohol! One of the most popular varieties is Loch Ness. After 4 weeks, the gin is beautiful dark red in colour. Sign up to our newsletter to receive cocktail recipes, gin news and your exclusive offer! Sloe gin is absolutely delicious on its own, whether neat or on ice. If you can make a year ahead before drinking for the best results. When shopping for sloe gin, consider two important factors: flavor and ABV (Alcohol by Volume). Naturally, nobody wants their precious gin to go off! Ahhh what an incredible gift idea!! Most certainly good to go. Cheers Isaac, I appreciate you taking the time. Ive tried, but all I ever find around me are blackberries, and damsons if the tourists dont get them first! Improves Blood Flow. !Thank you for sharing with us. Sloe berries, blackthorn, or prunus spinosa, is a shrub belonging to the rose family. Clear editor. Check the best before date to make sure youre using it within the recommended date range. Blackberries, of course, come into season in the UK in August (or occasionally, late July, depending on the weather) and continue to ripen into plump, juicy sweetness throughout September and even early October. There are many mor infusions and cocktails on the Drinks page, like the following. To make gin, a neutral grain alcohol is distilled with juniper berries and other botanicals. Your email address will not be published. This recipe would be perfect for those cold nights. Im not sure it noticeably improves after 2-3 months, but many claim it does. There is nothing wrong with this advice but it isnt essential and the frost can be emulated by freezing the sloes before using. Store the jar on its side and keep out of direct sunlight. Weve got some suggestions for easy twists on the recipe below! Gold, Silver and Bronze! So strain the gin from the berries, and bottle it up after. How do you make sloe gin? Soffice sogno; Vernissage Just wondering why I shouldnt leave it for after 3 months when it says you can enjoy it as a Christmas tipple. Related QnA: Advertisements. Alternatively, below are two easy cocktail recipes that you can whip up in under a minute at home using your homemade blackberry gin.