Sloe Gin is made from gin and ripe sloes which are blackthorn drupes, a small fruit relative of the plum. The sloes are are traditionally picked from late October to early November and give Sloe Gin the dark red colour. Each sloe is pricked, traditionally with a thorn taken from the blackthorn bush on which they grow. Sloe Gin made in the European Union is must be a minimum of 25% Alcohol by volume. Technically, Sloe Gin is a gin-based liqueur, but due to EU spirit drink regulations is the only gin-based liqueur that can legally be called gin without the liqueur suffix. The traditional way of making Sloe Gin is to soak the sloes in gin. Sugar is required to ensure the sloe juice is extracted from the fruit.
Many commercial sloe gins today are made by flavouring less expensive neutral grain spirits or by using close relatives of the sloe, such as the Aronia berry or beach plum, but all the gins you'll find in our list are the real deal.
1. Pickerings Sloe Gin
Absolutely gorgeous Sloe Gin with full on fruity flavour and smooth after taste.So nice this is a gin you can enjoy straight up without tonic, perhaps over some ice and would make a fruity addition to a cocktail or punch.
2. Bathtub Sloe Gin
A hugely popular Sloe Gin, Ableforth's Bathtub Gin comes in a smaller 50cl bottle but is gloriously thick and absolutely loaded with flavour. Inspired by recipes long forgotten about expect surprise notes of cherry, plum and vanilla.
3.Haymans Sloe Gin
If you prefer your Sloe Gin a little less sweet and a little more on the bitter side then this is for you. Haymans Sloe Gin combines wild plum and Hawthorn fruits and will keep you csy in winter of make a refreshing long, cool drink in summer.
4. Chase Sloe & Mulberry Gin
Another 50cl Sloe Gin made with Chase Vodka at it's heart. Aged in Oak barrels this Gin uses hedgerow sloe berries mixed with mulberries to make a rich and warming gin that we love.
5. Monkey 47 Sloe Gin
Monkey 37 breaks the mould for Sloe Gins and you should do when you drink it. Try it with lemonade instead of tonic and enjoy the burst of fruit flavours against the soft gin undertones.
6. 6 o' clock Sloe Gin
Preservative and colouring free, prepared to traditional recipes this is a smooth and luxurious gin that perfect over ice in cocktails. You only get 35cl so sip it slowly as it doesn't last long!
7. Warners Sloe Gin
Another Sloe Gin with hand picked sloe berries and absolutely bursting with flavour. Try adding a splash of this Award winning gin to a glass of Prosecco or add it to a long tall glass of crushed ice and ginger beer!
8. Sipsmith Sloe Gin
This Sloe Gin from Sipsmith is actually a liquer. With the deepest ruby red colour we've seen so far this strikes the perfect balance between sweetness and bitter. It reminded us a little of Pimms and is great summer choice on ice.
9. Plymouth Sloe Gin
Probably the most well known Sloe Gin in our list and one of the most popular around. Distilled in copper pots and using only hand foraged slow berries this is another gin that's managed the perfect balance of strenth and taste and make for delicious drinking all year round.
10. Perthshire Sloe Gin
Probably the best kept secret in the Sloe Gin market and thankfully now available on Amazon. Packed with flavour, this delicious sloe gin will convert any standard gin drinker. Made in the Scottish town of Perthshire and absolutely bursting with juicy berry flavour this is not a gin to be missed.
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