Sloe Gins
….. some interesting options …..
For many people the idea of buying a Sloe Gin off-the-shelf would be sacrilege. The enjoyment of finding this year’s fruit, mixing the ingredients and then allowing time to pass before opening up the latest vintage has been part of their autumn activities for decades if not generations.
However, for those mere mortals amongst us, not wishing to perfect alchemy, there are a number of rather interesting options that can be ordered online, and will arrive a few days later.
1 - Hayman’s Sloe Gin
£22.75 (70cl)- The Whisky Exchange
A friend had suggested Hayman’s Sloe Gin as an option, and duly informed a bottle was acquired and he had been correct in his assessment: very well made, perhaps a tad too much sugar for some , but it certainly had lots of flavour with touches of spice and black pepper on the palate. Comes from a long line of distillers and the base brew of their gin wins many awards. Having enjoyed this brew, I thought it might be an idea to lift the bar a few notches, and see what else was on the market.
2 - Monkey 47 Sloe Gin
£38.40 (50cl) - Master of Malt
Monkey 47 Gin has been a great success story amongst gin aficionados for the last decade, and adding their Sloe Gin to this tasting was an easy option. This team macerate their Black Forest sloes for three months and then add the other components. Lighter on the nose than the other options, it made up for this on the palate: concentrated berries, zesty, with a very strong finish of concentrated juniper lingering on an almost tart finish. A lot of nuances in this powerful package.
3 - 6 O’Clock 5 Year Aged Sloe Gin
£35.00 (35cl) - 6 O’Clock Gin
A richness of cassis on the nose with a palate of ripe berries, mocha, cedar wood and concentration that takes you slightly by surprise. Earthy, woody and very long.
4 - Downpour Sloe & Bramble Gin
£42.00 (70cl) - North Uist Distillery
Very, very botanical on the nose with an enticing palate of lemons and rose petals that create a complex array of wonderfully woven textures and spice elements that sit and sit. Rich and very fruity with the combination of brambles and sloes working astonishingly well together.
5 - Broken Bones Sloe Gin
£43.94 (50cl) - Master of Malt
Made in Slovenia. If you were hunting wild boar on a very frosty winter morning in the mountains, had stopped for elevenses with a wonderful collection of richly smoked meats, then this is the brew that would work to absolute perfection. Lifts the eyebrows, slightly takes your breath away and not one for the faint-hearted. A very punchy number, different in execution to anything else tasted, and on the right occasion, hits the mark with precision.
They were all very enjoyable and very different. However, as an option to have in the fridge throughout the year, then the Downpour meets the brief.
