Sweet, ruby-red sloe gin - naturally flavoured with the juice of the beautiful purple berries that, come early autumn, start bursting into plump ripeness along hedgerows across the UK - is one of our preferred ways to enjoy our favourite tipple!
You can buy your sloe gin at the shops but it’s also super easy to make at home - why not try our quick and easy recipe?
Not sure how to drink your sloe gin? Well, traditionally it is drunk neat or in warm drinks like a hot toddy, but it’s also delicious over ice, combined with a light, neutral tonic with a sprig of rosemary to garnish, or even topped up with prosecco for a fabulous sparkling aperitif!
Here at Craft Gin Club, though, we’re all about the discovery and adventure 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.
Here are six of our favourite, easy-to-make sloe gin cocktails you can try at home. Chin chin!
6 of the best sloe gin cocktail recipes
A Sloe Negroni is sweeter than the classic Negroni
Sloe Negroni
25ml Sloe Gin
5ml Gin
25ml Aperol
25ml Sweet vermouth
Fill a glass three-quarters full with ice. Pour over your spirits. Stir gently until fully chilled. Garnish with an orange twist.
Limoncello pairs beautifully with sloe gin
Rosemary & Limoncello Sloe Gin Sparkler
(Makes 1 drink)
50ml sloe gin
25ml limoncello
Sparkling water
2 rosemary sprigs, one to muddle and one to garnish
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.
The Sloe Gin Fizz tastes as stunning as it looks
Sloe Gin Fizz
30ml sloe gin
10ml simple syrup
15ml freshly squeezed lemon juice
Prosecco or champagne, to top up
One egg white (optional)
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.
This festive sparkling cocktail combines gin, prosecco and cherry brandy!
Hedgerow Royale
25ml sloe gin
25ml cherry brandy
1 rosemary sprig
Approx. 50ml chilled prosecco (to top up)
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.
For an alternative, use a highball glass and serve your drink over crushed ice.
You can use crushed icce or cubes for this refreshing long drink
Sloe Gin Genie
15ml simple syrup
30ml sloe gin
30ml gin
30ml lemon juice, freshly squeezed
8 mint leaves
Lots of ice or crushed ice, if you prefer)
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.
This festive cranberry & sloe gin martini will keep your spirits up as the nights draw in
Cranberry and Sloe Gin Martini
(Makes 1 drink)
50ml gin
15ml sloe gin
15ml lemon or lime juice, freshly squeezed
1 teaspoon cranberry jelly
1 rosemary sprig, to garnish
Add all ingredients to an ice-filled shaker and shake vigorously until shaker is very cold.
Strain into a chilled glass.
Garnish with a twist of lemon peel and a few cranberries to serve.
