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- Feb 15, 2015
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As there was mention of sloe gin fizzes the other day, I was curious about what exactly was sloe gin. Turns out sloe (aka berries of a kind from blackthorn trees). In beginning of the early 17th century, the UK Parliament passed a series of Enclosure Acts which transformed common land into parcels for individuals, creating farms. In order to divide the land, hedgerow were needed and because of its dense thorny branches, the blackthorn was used as a natural fence. Apparently hedgerows are still excellent places to go sloe-picking!
Because of all those hedgerows a new bumper crop of sloe berries was born. Sloes on their own are very tart and astringent it seemed a waste to ignore the annual harvest, so those living in the country soon learned that the best way to take advantage of the berries was to steep them in alcohol.
Unfortunately the gin produced at the time wasn't of the best of quality—and its over-consumption sparked a number of gin related public health issues. A poem dating from 1717 singles out homemade sloe gin beverages for criticism as a social ill, while 19th-century accounts describe sloe gin being consumed in too large of quantities as a sort of poor-man's port. As a result, for a long time, sloe gin didn't enjoy the most elevated of reputations. But all that started to change in the late 19th century, when more established distilleries began to produce their own, higher-quality sloe gin.
Thus began sloe gin's revival, and bartenders began to take notice. The Sloe Gin Fizz—still probably the most famous sloe gin cocktail out there—was born at the beginning of the 20th century, and enjoyed popularity through the 1960's. ~ Source ~
Here's a recipe from A Year in the Life of Downton Abbey -
Makes 1 liter
Because of all those hedgerows a new bumper crop of sloe berries was born. Sloes on their own are very tart and astringent it seemed a waste to ignore the annual harvest, so those living in the country soon learned that the best way to take advantage of the berries was to steep them in alcohol.
Unfortunately the gin produced at the time wasn't of the best of quality—and its over-consumption sparked a number of gin related public health issues. A poem dating from 1717 singles out homemade sloe gin beverages for criticism as a social ill, while 19th-century accounts describe sloe gin being consumed in too large of quantities as a sort of poor-man's port. As a result, for a long time, sloe gin didn't enjoy the most elevated of reputations. But all that started to change in the late 19th century, when more established distilleries began to produce their own, higher-quality sloe gin.
Thus began sloe gin's revival, and bartenders began to take notice. The Sloe Gin Fizz—still probably the most famous sloe gin cocktail out there—was born at the beginning of the 20th century, and enjoyed popularity through the 1960's. ~ Source ~
Here's a recipe from A Year in the Life of Downton Abbey -
Makes 1 liter
- 1 pound sloes
- 2 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 liter bottle of gin
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