Spirits 101: What is sloe gin?

Like gin? You’ll love sloe gin. Never quite warmed to the aromatic spirit? Well, you’ll probably love sloe gin, too. That’s because this is indeed gin, but not quite as you know it. Brightly coloured with fruity notes and a thicker, richer feel on the palate, sloe gin is, quite simply, something else entirely.  

One of England’s most popular drinks during the late 19th century, sloe gin has since fallen in and out of favour, but it’s enjoying something of a revival thanks to the boom in quality distillers around the world now putting their own spin on this age-old style. 

If you’ve ever wondered what sloe gin is, how it’s made, what it tastes like or how to serve it, we have the answers – along with a handful of standout sloe gins to try.  

While the UK will always be sloe gin’s original and spiritual home, this spirit has also found success in a range of places, including New Zealand and Tasmania, where blackthorn plants – and their sloe berries – were introduced after the British settled; the plant loves a cool climate.

As more distillers join the gin boom and sloe gin becomes better known, we’re seeing a rise in experimental takes on the style, especially here in Australia. Local producers are working with an array of native botanicals, such as the rosella flower, which delivers a crisp, tart flavour.

Sloe berries may be mouth-puckeringly sour, but all that time spent soaking in gin and sugar makes the resulting infused spirit deliciously rich, while also balancing sweet with tart. It’s ruby-red in colour and has slightly less alcohol than a ‘regular’ gin – sloe gin lands at about 26% ABV, which is very liqueur-like, compared to other gin styles that come in at around 40%.  

When it comes to the flavours in sloe gin, you can expect dark fruits like blackcurrant and plum, and red fruits such as cherries and cranberries, which bring that signature sour element. Gin’s textbook juniper still shines through, but it’s all wrapped up in these richer, fruity flavours.

Sloe gin is traditionally served neat or as part of a cocktail. When served on its own, sloe gin can make an ideal winter sipper, but when spritzed up with mixers – think tonic, soda, lemonade or whatever else you might usually add to your go-to traditional gin – and a load of ice, it becomes a brilliant pick for the warmer months, too. 

If there’s a chill in the air, sloe gin can also work well in place of mulled wine, complete with cinnamon and cloves added for spice. But one of its most famous cocktails is the Sloe Gin Fizz. This simple concoction was born in the early 20th century and combines lemon juice, soda water, sugar and sloe gin to make a super-refreshing cocktail that swings from sweet to sour and back again. Sloe gin also makes a cracking addition to a Negroni in place of the usual London dry. 

Whether you’re sipping it neat or in a cocktail, sloe gin definitely deserves a closer look. As with all spirits, each distillery’s sloe gins have subtle differences, so it’s worth trying a few to see what you like best, as well as how you prefer it to be served.