As we mentioned during our review of Averell’s Damson Gin, Damsons or Sloes are different than their modern plum counterparts you’ll find in the store. They tend to be sharp, more concentrated, and a bit more astringent then their snacking cousins. As a result, they were more commonly used for preserved and sweetened things like jams. These flavors tend to be richer, and were originally more targeted toward winter and fall applications. The Sloe Gin Fizz takes this idea, and flips it on its head.
A riff on the Gin Fizz, the Sloe Gin Fizz excludes egg whites in favor of a quaffable mix of lemon, syrup, and sloe gin (and/or regular gin). The result is a bright and summery sippable drink that’s easy to make and fun to sip. While many will emphasize the color of the Sloe (with a reddish hue), barrel aging and age will impact the coloring slightly (our picture is made with Patient Wolf’s Starward Whiskey Barrel Aged).
Sloe Gin Fizz
The Sloe Gin Fizz is load with spicy plum notes, subtle sweetness, and a bright refreshing character. The flavors bounce off each other and create a refreshing if bright and jammy mix of fruity flavors tinged with spices. There’s a slight caramelized, dried fruit sweetness here as well. Overall, it’s quite nice, and feels like a good cross over from summer to winter.
Drink Notes & Recommendations
The original Sloe Gin Fizz follows the above recipe, but if you’re looking for a more modern update, consider the following recipe. This variant turns down some of the juniper notes in favor of the Sloe, and can be slightly easier on the booze depending on your Sloe Gin.:
- Sloe Gin / Damson Gin – There aren’t a lot of Sloe / Damson gins to choose from. As a result, you’re likely to be limited to a handful of choices. In our case, we used Averell Damson Gin originally, as it’s what we have on hand, but both Plymouth and Hayman make fairly common Sloe Gin examples. In our picture we used a limited edition from Patient Wolf, but they make a regular Blackthorn edition which would be stunning too (if you happen to be down under in Australia, or have access).
- Gin – Any gin will work here, but we recommend a softer style like Plymouth for the smoothest drink. You can also choose to accentuate the spicing with a modern gin like Aviation or a citrusy gin like Bluecoat.
- Lemon Juice – For best results, use fresh squeezed.
- Simple Syrup – This uses a standard 1:1 ratio simple syrup.
- Club Soda – Use your local local grocery brand. It’s still quality, and you won’t add unnecessary costs.
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