With Christmas less than 2 weeks away, sloe gin season is in full swing. This sweet red take on our favourite tipple is something we look forward to with the coming of the colder months each year, and any excuse to drink the festive libation is one we'll take! These six sloe gin sippers will keep you feeling holly and jolly all season long.
Rosemary Sloe Gin Fizz
Image: Maureen Petrosky
(Makes 1 drink)
50ml sloe gin
25ml limoncello
sparkling water
2 rosemary sprigs, one to muddle and one to garnish
Method:
Take the leaves off one rosemary sprig and place in a cocktail shaker with limoncello.
Muddle.
Add ice and sloe gin, then shake vigorously until well chilled.
Strain into tall glass filled with ice.
Top off with sparkling water and garnish with a rosemary sprig.
Hedgerow Royale
Image: Miriam Nice
(Makes 1 drink)
50ml Prosecco or sparkling wine, chilled
25ml sloe gin
25ml cherry brandy
1 rosemary sprig
crushed ice
Method:
Pour sparkling wine over crushed ice in a coupe glass.
Lightly bruise rosemary sprig in hand before dropping it into the glass.
Slowly pour sloe gin and cherry brandy so they sink to the bottom.
Serve immediately.
Mulled Sloe Gin
Image: Kayleigh Dray
(Makes 1 drink)
50ml sloe gin
100ml cloudy apple juice
100ml clementine juice
1 cinnamon stick
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 whole cloves
1 orange wheel, studded with cloved
Method:
Pour sloe gin into a hot toddy glass.
Heat apple and clementine juices together gently, along with cloves, vanilla extract and cinnamon stick.
Strain mixture into glass, and mix together with gin.
Garnish with clove-studded orange wheel
Gin Genie
Image: Tina Rupp
(Makes 1 drink)
15ml simple syrup
30ml sloe gin
30ml ounce gin
30ml lemon juice, freshly squeezed
8 mint leaves
crushed ice
Method:
Muddle mint leaves in highball glass.
Add the gin, lemon juice and simple syrup.
Mix well.
Add crushed ice and mix again.
Top with more crushed ice and sloe gin.
Nice and Sloe
Image: Carey Jones
(Makes 1 drink)
40ml dry white rum
20ml sloe gin
20ml lemon juice, freshly squeezed
5ml simple syrup
5-8 mint leaves, to garnish
Method:Add mint to cocktail shaker, along with rum, sloe gin, lemon juice and simply syrup.
Shake well and strain into a coupe glass.
Garnish with a mint sprig to serve.
Cranberry and Sloe Gin Martini
Image: Caroline Childerley
(Makes 1 drink)
50ml gin
15ml sloe gin
15ml lemon juice, freshly squeezed
1 teaspoon cranberry jelly
1 rosemary sprig, to garnish
Method:
Add all ingredients to an ice-filled shaker and shake vigorously until shaker is very cold.
Strain into a chilled glass.
Garnish with rosemary sprig to serve.