Sloe gin is a red-colored liqueur made from gin and blackthorn fruits (sloes), originating in England. It typically has an alcohol content between 15% and 33% ABV.
How it is made
Sloe gin is traditionally made by picking ripe sloes after the first frost, pricking each fruit, and steeping them in gin with sugar. The mixture is stored in a cool, dark place for at least three months, turning regularly. The resulting liqueur has a deep ruby red color. Commercial versions may use neutral grain spirit flavored with blackthorn fruits or related fruits like beach plum and Aronia berry.
History
As an alcoholic drink based on gin, sloe gin is unique in that European Union regulations allow it to be legally marked as 'gin' without appending 'liqueur.' Despite this, it contains between 15% and 30% alcohol by volume, with EU regulations establishing 25% ABV as the minimum for the beverage to be classified as sloe gin.
How it is served
Sloe gin is served in various cocktails including Blackthorn, Siberian Grog, Small Hummer, Amber Hive, Charleston Collage (boston Apothecary), Clove Cocktail, Dorstone, Green Deacon, House Call, House of Payne, Kool-Aid Shot, Nouveau Sangaree, Persephone, Post Modern, and Running of the Bulls. It can also be neat, with food, or used as a base for other beverages like slider, which is still cider steeped with the sloes used to make the gin.