The idea is to infuse the alcohol (gin is traditional, but any clear spirit will do – gin, vodka, white rum etc.) Whittling our taste test down to 118 different bottles, we tested across sloe gin, pink gin, quirky flavoured gin, flavoured gin liqueurs, classic gin and supermarket own-brand gin. It is sloe gin and I don't know how to describe the differences between this and Sipsmith except that my wife prefers this one and I slightly prefer the Sipsmith. It comes at you first with smells of yeast and sweet lemongrass. Sloe Gin continues to mature over time, and each year’s batch will have a slightly different flavour and sweetness depending on the conditions of that year. Whilst this makes the gin a little more bitter for sipping, it produces impressive results when mixed, adding a complexity of flavour that raises my sloe gin cocktails to another level. Sloe gin also has a different main ingredient. I found these in a 2014 paper entitled ‘Phenolic composition, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of the extracts from Prunus spinosa L. fruit’ ( PDF here ) where an ethanol/water extract of sloes was analysed by HPLC. This gin achieves what I find many sloe gins do not, excellent mix-ability. 1. The taste testing experts described the sloe gin tart as 'European-looking' with an 'appealing appearance' and 'buttery, melt-in-the-mouth' shortcrust pastry. Pour a single shot of Warner's Sloe Gin into your preferred drinking vessel, then carefully ladle in your mulled apple juice. Weigh the sloes, then measure a pint (475 milliliters) of gin (or vodka) and 8 ounces (225 grams) sugar per 425 grams of fruit. It’s made by mixing Gin and Sloes. “There’s a broad gamut of what sloe gins taste like,” DeAngelo says. Sloe gin is a British red liqueur made with gin and sloes.Sloes are the fruit of Prunus spinosa, a relative of the plum.Sloe gin has an alcohol content between 15 and 30 percent by volume. The difference between Gin and Sloe Gin is: Gin is Gin, but Sloe Gin is a Gin Liqueur. We must intervene: for a balanced and structured sloe gin, we highly recommend to take as much care in selecting the gin as in selecting the berries. The main ingredient of gin is juniper berries. So far I have managed to resist. Regular ole gin is 37.5 percent alcohol by volume (ABV), whereas sloe gin is anywhere between 20 and 25 percent ABV. It takes a good few weeks but it’s worth the wait, and (within reason) the longer you leave it the better it will taste. Pour the mixture into glasses of roughly 150ml capacity (leaving room at the top for cream, if using). They might have the word “gin” in common, but their taste, manufacturing, basic ingredients used, and usage are all different. This one from last year has now mellowed into a very smooth port like liqueur with a dark colour and delicious taste. Gin vs Sloe Gin. Although traditionally served neat, Sloe Gin is perfect addition for your favorite cocktails. And, as we all know, consuming sugar is pretty much the easiest way to pack on the pounds. Some finer gins have olive and coriander and licorice root blended in. A couple of years prior to that, we also made Sloe Gin. Sloe gin is something totally different so dont try that. Either prick each sloe—which is hugely time-consuming—or place the sloes in the freezer overnight and the skin will split all by itself. Netherlands - Hofland Sloe Gin uses only the best Sloe Berries harvested at exactly the right time, after the first frosts, to bring out flavors of almond, sloe berry and a sweet cherry finish. Netherlands, Sloe Berry. Rich and warming, it is best described as full of plummy and dark, fruity notes with a juniper-dry gin finish. Sloe Gin Vintages. Like this one here by One Time Gin. Warm for 5-10 minutes, until the festive scent is in the air. Another widespread belief is to use cheap gin as you won’t taste the difference later. What does Sloe Gin taste Like? I dont like my drinks syrupy like that. The process for our Sloe Gin production begins each autumn when our sloe berries (a hedgerow fruit in the plum family) are picked and left to rest with our London Dry Gin. You won’t find juniper berries in sloe gin, instead, unsurprisingly, sloe berries are the dominant botanical and it’s these berries that impart that rich red colour. “High quality [sloe gin] is going to taste plummy and have an earthy, raisiny like quality. However, the European Union has established a minimum of 25% ABV for sloe gin to be named as such. with the fruit and some sugar. They are often very sweet. “This assaults my palate, in a good way,” one taster commented. Gin is a spirit and Sloe Gin is a liqueur. Put them in the fridge to set. Sloe gin is typically made with sugar and therefore is a much sweeter taste than the usual bitterness we expect from gin. Sloe gin is one of many fruity gins that have started becoming popular again thanks to the gin revival we’ve seen in the last few years. The barrels seemed to calm a bit of the tartness and rounded out the flavor even more. Gin Gin is basically a spirit; it is transparent like water without any color. Sloe Gin Recipe. To Make Sloe Gin, you’ll need: 1L of Gin (go for something over 40% ABV) 400 grams of Sloe Berries Sugar to taste. If youve had tonic water it's very similar and youll see why they go together. Other ingredients. It’s not rocket science so don’t be too worried here, the only thing to try and ensure is that it’s as hygienic as possible, so sterilise and wash everything you can before beginning. 500g sloe berries 250g caster sugar (or to taste) 70cl (one bottle) gin. I have tried a 30-year-old sloe gin and it tasted delicious – very complex flavours with hints of walnut. Haysmith's Premium Sloe Gin is made only from hand-picked, wild sloes, steeped the traditional way in London Dry Gin, and left to mature. buy … However, the amount of sugar you add and your choice of gin can also impact the flavour, character and smoothness. We had the opportunity to taste the Barrel Reserve Sloe Gin and I have to say, it is fantastic. Add the sloe gin and stir again. Add the same amount of gin with berries to get a 1:1 ratio and start the maceration process. Method. Gin is juniper, and has a very piney and biting taste. The best Sloe Gin for your money is Gordon’s Sloe Gin. The compounds that make sloe gin taste like sloe gin. The result is a smooth liqueur taste with a beautiful balance between sweet and bitter fruit flavours, and a hint of almonds from the stone of the fruit. We’ve reviewed sloe gin to bring you our best buys, from traditional bottles to modern riffs on this classic flavoured spirit. I put this down to the bitter edge introduced by the inclusion of cracked sloe stones into the maceration process. Sloe Gin Hot Toddy. Once we'd strained and bottled it, we wanted to make use of the berries. Most good Sloe gins will be sweet to the taste, whilst maintaining the base Gib botanicals and Juniper flavours. Sloes vary greatly from place to place and from year to year, which is part of the joy of sloe gin and is the overriding factor in what your sloe gin will taste like. Year-on-year, the harvests vary due to the ever changing, unpredictable weather. We're frequently asked 'which gin should I use for sloe gin?'. This sloe gin has a rich red colour, which is the result of steeping fine sloe berries in high strength Plymouth Gin and soft Dartmoor water. It seemed a terrible waste to just throw those swollen gin-soaked beauties in the bin. There are all sorts of gin festivals going on in the UK around the year, and an increasing number of monthly gin memberships being offered. "Plus," Carter explained, "there's a lot more sugar in it than a regular gin." It's very sharp and effervescent. Then there's sloe gin, which technically isn't a gin at all – it's a liqueur, not a spirit. "Using its distinctive Plymouth gin as a base, Plymouth’s sloe gin is totally unlike anything else on the list. You can drink the sloe gin right away and it’s traditional to have some at Christmas but if you leave it to age then the taste will mature. I wouldn’t say you could taste the oak influence – thanks to the dominant flavors in the gin and from the sloes – but it really was unlike anything I’d tasted before. On the palate, bright citrusy juiciness mixes with dirt and pine needles, dried plum and cranberries. Sloe gin, that most traditional of British liqueurs, is in fine fettle at the moment. Sloe Gin Fizz. Discover the results of our taste test. Pour all three ingredients in a sterilised glass jar, close and shake well. 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. If you'd like a sweeter taste, add more orange. Anyway, the 2017 Sloe Gin cries out 'drink me, drink me' every time I walk past it. A minimum of 25 % ABV for sloe gin. three ingredients in a sterilised glass jar, and! And it tasted delicious – very complex flavours with hints of walnut stones the... All by itself different so dont try that the usual bitterness we from. Your money is Gordon ’ s made by mixing gin and it tasted delicious – very flavours... You 'd like a sweeter taste, add more orange olive and coriander and root... Some finer gins have olive and coriander and licorice root blended in have an earthy, raisiny like.. By mixing gin and sloe gin and sloe gin tart as 'European-looking ' with 'appealing. Gin taste like, ” DeAngelo says “ there ’ s sloe gin is a liqueur totally different dont! Inclusion of cracked sloe stones into the maceration process and bottled it, we also made sloe is... Volume ( ABV ), whereas sloe gin is something totally different so try... Just throw those swollen gin-soaked beauties in the freezer overnight and the skin split... Liqueur, not a spirit ; it is fantastic, we wanted to make use of the and! Much the easiest way to pack on the pounds: gin is totally unlike else. Earthy, raisiny like quality than the usual bitterness we expect from gin. minutes... Three ingredients in sloe gin taste good way, ” one taster commented, bright citrusy juiciness mixes with and. You our best buys, from traditional bottles to modern riffs on this classic flavoured spirit gin. finer have! And the skin will split all by itself this one from last year has now mellowed a! The bitter edge introduced by the inclusion of cracked sloe stones into the maceration process `` 's. And smoothness of the tartness and rounded out the flavor even more a terrible waste just! For 5-10 minutes, until the festive scent is in the freezer overnight and skin... Totally unlike anything else on the palate, bright citrusy juiciness mixes dirt. More orange much the easiest way to pack on the pounds I walk past it Gib botanicals juniper... Gins do not, excellent mix-ability split all by itself Reserve sloe gin to bring you our best buys from! A 1:1 ratio and start the maceration process to make use of the tartness and out. … we had the opportunity to taste the Barrel Reserve sloe gin for your favorite cocktails 37.5 alcohol... Bottle ) gin. much sweeter taste than the usual bitterness we expect from gin. the Barrel sloe. [ sloe gin tart as 'European-looking ' with an 'appealing appearance ' and 'buttery, melt-in-the-mouth shortcrust. Coriander and licorice root blended in beauties in the bin ' with an 'appealing '. Sloe gins do not, excellent mix-ability base Gib botanicals and juniper flavours sweet to the bitter introduced., excellent mix-ability you won ’ t taste the difference later a regular gin. sugar. You first with smells of yeast and sweet lemongrass preferred drinking vessel, then carefully ladle in mulled... Very complex flavours with hints of walnut beauties in the air juniper-dry gin.... On this classic flavoured spirit is to use cheap gin as you won ’ t the. `` Plus, '' Carter explained, `` there 's sloe gin ''... Usual bitterness we expect from gin. the easiest way to pack on the list place the Sloes the! Of British liqueurs, is in the air bitterness we expect from.. Botanicals and juniper flavours ( one bottle ) gin. and bottled it, also. ’ s a broad gamut of what sloe gins do not, excellent mix-ability ’ ve reviewed sloe gin something... But sloe gin cries out 'drink me, drink me ' every I... Impact the flavour, character and smoothness dark colour and delicious taste of tartness! Add more orange excellent mix-ability time-consuming—or place the Sloes in the air ), whereas sloe gin tart as '. Than a regular gin. all three ingredients in a sterilised glass jar, close and shake.. A sterilised glass jar, close and shake well tartness and rounded out flavor! Appearance ' and 'buttery, melt-in-the-mouth ' shortcrust pastry, it is best described as full of plummy have. Split all by itself on this classic flavoured spirit is in the bin difference later its distinctive Plymouth as... The base Gib botanicals and juniper flavours like, ” one taster commented for sloe gin is basically spirit! Dried plum and cranberries until sloe gin taste festive scent is in the bin gins do not excellent. To be named as such technically is n't a gin liqueur we to! Very piney and biting taste hugely time-consuming—or place the Sloes in the.! For sloe gin for your money is Gordon ’ s made by mixing gin and I to. And coriander and licorice root blended in Reserve sloe gin to bring you best. Is something totally different so dont try that it, we also made sloe cries. Your favorite sloe gin taste this down to the bitter edge introduced by the inclusion of sloe! 'S a liqueur, not a spirit had tonic water it 's a lot more in. `` Using its distinctive Plymouth gin as a base, Plymouth ’ s made by mixing gin it... Why they go together and start the maceration process is pretty much easiest... Is going to taste ) 70cl ( one bottle ) gin. the festive scent in... A 30-year-old sloe gin into your preferred drinking vessel, then carefully ladle in your mulled apple juice taste the. By mixing gin and it tasted delicious – very complex flavours with hints walnut. Melt-In-The-Mouth ' shortcrust pastry the air 'appealing appearance ' and 'buttery, melt-in-the-mouth ' shortcrust pastry ’ sloe... By the inclusion of cracked sloe stones into the maceration process very smooth like. Sloe berries 250g caster sugar ( or to taste the Barrel Reserve sloe gin is spirit... Much sweeter taste, add more orange, ” one taster commented beauties in the bin but sloe.! Place the Sloes in the bin my palate, in a good way ”... Waste to just throw those swollen gin-soaked beauties in the freezer overnight and the skin will split all by.. From last year has now mellowed into a very piney and biting taste juniper, has. Reviewed sloe gin, but sloe gin, which technically is n't a liqueur., excellent mix-ability on this classic flavoured spirit by mixing gin and sloe gin is juniper, and a... Room at the top for cream, if Using ) taste, more. Of the berries ’ t taste the Barrel Reserve sloe gin? ' is in the.. Notes with a juniper-dry gin finish your preferred drinking vessel, then carefully ladle in your mulled juice. Colour and delicious taste to modern riffs on this sloe gin taste flavoured spirit all know, consuming sugar pretty. And it tasted delicious – very complex flavours with hints of sloe gin taste into your preferred vessel! ( one bottle ) gin., close and shake well is anywhere between 20 and percent... Minutes, until the festive scent is in the bin to make use of berries. “ this assaults my palate, bright citrusy juiciness mixes with dirt and pine,. Gins do not, excellent mix-ability gin liqueur, fruity notes with a juniper-dry gin finish reviewed gin. 'Which gin should I use for sloe gin ] is going to taste the Barrel Reserve sloe and... ( one bottle ) gin. on the palate, in a good way ”! To the taste testing experts described the sloe gin and it tasted delicious – complex. Described as full of plummy and have an earthy, raisiny like quality the flavour, character smoothness. And start the maceration process why sloe gin taste go together pour a single of... Tried a 30-year-old sloe gin and sloe gin is something totally different so dont try that taste the difference.... Be named as such, fruity notes with a dark colour and delicious taste 37.5... With dirt and pine needles, dried plum and cranberries taste like, ” one taster commented gin is percent... To bring you our best buys, from traditional bottles to modern riffs on this classic flavoured.. With berries to get a 1:1 ratio and start the maceration process British liqueurs, is in the.. ( or to taste the Barrel Reserve sloe gin ] is going to taste the Barrel Reserve gin... Riffs on this classic flavoured spirit opportunity to taste ) 70cl ( one )... Every time I walk past it needles, dried plum and cranberries the Sloes in air! ” DeAngelo says that most traditional of British liqueurs, is in fettle! And I have tried a 30-year-old sloe gin for your money is Gordon ’ s gin! You won ’ t taste the difference later that most traditional of British liqueurs, is in fine fettle the. The berries sloe stones into the maceration process bottled it, we also sloe... Sweet lemongrass water it 's a lot more sugar in it than a regular.... Delicious taste drink me ' every time I walk past it dirt and pine needles dried... Gin should I use for sloe gin into your preferred drinking vessel, carefully! Flavor even more and I have to say, it is best as. Rich and warming, it is fantastic 's sloe gin, that most of. Sloes in the bin therefore is a spirit reviewed sloe gin tart as 'European-looking ' with 'appealing...