Sloe Gin Fizz

If you enjoy the Gin Fizz, you’ll love the fruity, refreshing taste that its variation, the Sloe Gin Fizz, provides. Making use of a liquor created with the small, tart berry from England, this cocktail features a sweet but tangy taste and an appealing red color. Because of the slightly lower ABV, it is appropriate for a wide variety of occasions.

History of the Sloe Gin Fizz

The sloe berries from the English blackthorn bush are not edible on their own, but they are often used in jam and other preserves. Since the 17th century, distillers have used the tiny and tart berries to make a gin-based liquor that is red and sweet, but not overwhelmingly so. Traditionally, this type of alcohol is used in winter, as the berries are best picked after the first frost, but when mixed as a cocktail, it can be used in any season.

There have been a number of cocktails featuring sloe gin, such as the Alabama Slammer, which became popular in the 80s. But unlike these other drinks, the Gin Fizz utilizes it as its central ingredient, highlighting the fruity gin with syrup, club soda, and lemon juice.

Ingredients

You only need four main ingredients to create the perfect sloe-flavored Gin Fizz. The central beverage is the sloe gin itself, so make sure you use a high-quality and authentic version such as Sipsmith, Hayman’s or Plymouth. In general, this drink contains less alcohol than non-flavored gin, so you can expect around 25 to 30% ABV.

Aside from the liquor, you’ll need club soda, simple syrup, and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Although you can use ready-made juice, your drink won’t have the same fresh flavor and you’ll lose some of the healthy Vitamin C present in the fruit. Most recipes also call for some kind of garnish, generally a lemon wedge and a cherry.

Optimal Ingredients

To make the cocktail, stick to these six high-quality ingredients. Although a regular Gin Fizz is often made with egg white, the version with sloe gin skips this, but you can add it back in if you like. In that case, make sure to shake the ingredients without ice first, then again once you’ve added the ice. If you’re looking for variety, you could also try the cocktail using half the amount of sloe gin and adding 3/4 ounces of dry gin instead.

• 1 1/2 ounces of sloe gin
• 1 ounce of freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 3/4 ounce of simple syrup
• Some club soda
• One lemon wedge as garnish
• One cherry as garnish

How To Make It

The cocktail is simple to make, requiring only four steps. Before you begin, make sure you have enough ice, a cocktail shaker, and a highball or Collins glass at hand.

1. Combine your sloe gin, lemon juice, syrup, and ice in a cocktail shaker and shake well until you have a chilled mixture
2. Strain the mixture into your ice-filled glass
3. Top it up with the club soda
4. Add your lemon wedge and cherry as garnish

Whether you are hosting a backyard party or attending a more formal event, you can’t go wrong with this refreshing drink made of sloe gin. With its bright color and delicious flavor, it will delight both you and your guests without having the overpowering effect of higher ABV drinks.