Sloe Gin Guide | 'Must Try' Sloe Gins, Reviews & Cocktails
Discover 'must try' Sloe Gins, learn how to choose a Sloe Gin, and find ideal garnishes, serving suggestions, and more in our ultimate guide to Sloe Gins. Whether you are a seasoned drinker of Sloe Gins or exploring them for the first time, there's something new and interesting to enjoy, from Sloe Gins with bold and jammy fruitiness through to warming and spiced Sloe Gins.
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Introduction to Sloe Gins
What are Sloes?
Sloes are the fruit of the blackthorn bush. They are part of a classification of fruit called 'drupes', along with plums and cherries, defined by their fleshy outer layer and hard stony centre sounding the seed. However, sloes are commonly referred to as berries due to their small size and berry-like shape. Ripening in Autumn and typically delivering notes of plum, cherry, and almond, sloes have become a favourite flavour of Winter.
What is Sloe Gin?
Sloe Gin is traditionally a liqueur that is most commonly bottled at 20% - 30% ABV, however, Sloe Gins bottled at 37.5% ABV and above are also available. Sloe Gin is typically made by steeping sloes in gin for several months, usually with the addition of sugar and sometimes with winter spices (such as cinnamon, cloves and star anise) and/or other hedgerow fruits such as damsons and blackberries. Discover our recipes and tips on making your own Sloe Gin.
The History of Sloe Gin
The popularity of Sloe Gin stretches back centuries, gaining speed after the Gin Craze of the 1700s. With gin consumption booming and with the British countryside having been planted with Blackthorn hedges as natural fencing since Medieval times, Sloe Gin progressed from being a homemade tipple to being commonplace in pubs, bars and shops.
Sloes are the fruit of the blackthorn bush. They are part of a classification of fruit called 'drupes', along with plums and cherries, defined by their fleshy outer layer and hard stony centre sounding the seed. However, sloes are commonly referred to as berries due to their small size and berry-like shape. Ripening in Autumn and typically delivering notes of plum, cherry, and almond, sloes have become a favourite flavour of Winter.
What is Sloe Gin?
Sloe Gin is traditionally a liqueur that is most commonly bottled at 20% - 30% ABV, however, Sloe Gins bottled at 37.5% ABV and above are also available. Sloe Gin is typically made by steeping sloes in gin for several months, usually with the addition of sugar and sometimes with winter spices (such as cinnamon, cloves and star anise) and/or other hedgerow fruits such as damsons and blackberries. Discover our recipes and tips on making your own Sloe Gin.
The History of Sloe Gin
The popularity of Sloe Gin stretches back centuries, gaining speed after the Gin Craze of the 1700s. With gin consumption booming and with the British countryside having been planted with Blackthorn hedges as natural fencing since Medieval times, Sloe Gin progressed from being a homemade tipple to being commonplace in pubs, bars and shops.
Sloe Gins: A-Z
Discover some of the best Sloe Gins available in the UK, Europe and Australia. While not all of the Sloe Gins listed below were part of The Gin Guide Awards 2025, the acclaimed Winners in the Sloe Gin category this year are highlighted to help you pick them out.
820 Spirits
Abingdon
Cuckoo
Devil's Dyke
Dog and Spoon
Gin in a Tin
Green Room
GWYR
Haymans
Henstone
Ludlow
On The Wall
Pin Gin
Porthcawl
Shed One
Spirit of Bristol
Uncommon Distillery
Western Star
Wildjac
Wrekin
- Click on each distillery name for more information about the distilleries, interviews with the distillers, and more.
- Click on the 'Buy' button to visit the website of the distillery or their preferred retailer.
820 Spirits
Abingdon
Cuckoo
Devil's Dyke
Dog and Spoon
Gin in a Tin
Green Room
GWYR
Haymans
Henstone
Ludlow
On The Wall
Pin Gin
Porthcawl
Shed One
Spirit of Bristol
Uncommon Distillery
Western Star
Wildjac
Wrekin
British Sloe Gins
Edinburgh Seaside Gin
Bladderwrack Seaweed & Scurvy Grass with Cardamom & Grains of Paradise. SCOTLAND | BUY |
Greenwich Marine Gin
Dulse, Kombu Kelp & Sea Fennel with Lime Peel, Orange Peel & Tonka Beans. ENGLAND | BUY |
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Heart of Scotland - London Dry Gin
Scottish Sea Salt with Orange Peel, Black Cardamom, Bay & Chamomile. SCOTLAND | BUY |
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Rosemullion Seafarer's Gin
Samphire & 3 Seaweed Varieties with Lemon, Orange, Anise & Cassia. ENGLAND | BUY |
Rosemullion Seafarer's Gin
Samphire & 3 Seaweed Varieties with Lemon, Orange, Anise & Cassia. ENGLAND | BUY |
Whitstable Harbour Gin
Sea Buckthorn & Samphire with Bitter Orange, Lemon Peel & Cardamom. ENGLAND | BUY |
Whitstable Harbour Gin
Sea Buckthorn & Samphire with Bitter Orange, Lemon Peel & Cardamom. ENGLAND | BUY |
Whitstable Harbour Gin
Sea Buckthorn & Samphire with Bitter Orange, Lemon Peel & Cardamom. ENGLAND | BUY |
Whitstable Harbour Gin
Sea Buckthorn & Samphire with Bitter Orange, Lemon Peel & Cardamom. ENGLAND | BUY |
Whitstable Harbour Gin
Sea Buckthorn & Samphire with Bitter Orange, Lemon Peel & Cardamom. ENGLAND | BUY |
Whitstable Harbour Gin
Sea Buckthorn & Samphire with Bitter Orange, Lemon Peel & Cardamom. ENGLAND | BUY |
Whitstable Harbour Gin
Sea Buckthorn & Samphire with Bitter Orange, Lemon Peel & Cardamom. ENGLAND | BUY |
Whitstable Harbour Gin
Sea Buckthorn & Samphire with Bitter Orange, Lemon Peel & Cardamom. ENGLAND | BUY |
Whitstable Harbour Gin
Sea Buckthorn & Samphire with Bitter Orange, Lemon Peel & Cardamom. ENGLAND | BUY |
Whitstable Harbour Gin
Sea Buckthorn & Samphire with Bitter Orange, Lemon Peel & Cardamom. ENGLAND | BUY |
Whitstable Harbour Gin
Sea Buckthorn & Samphire with Bitter Orange, Lemon Peel & Cardamom. ENGLAND | BUY |
Whitstable Harbour Gin
Sea Buckthorn & Samphire with Bitter Orange, Lemon Peel & Cardamom. ENGLAND | BUY |
European Sloe Gins
100&NOMORE / Brava
Nori Seaweed with Dill, Fennel, Pine & Lavender. TGGA 2025 WINNER | SPAIN | BUY |
Algaïa London Dry Gin
Dulse Seaweed with Linden Flowers, Lemon Thyme & Cardamom. TGGA 2025 WINNER | FRANCE | BUY |
Gindome Peace Gin
Caviar, Sea Buckthorn & Seaweed, with Champagne, Orange Peel & Rosehips. ESTONIA | BUY |
Sloe Gin Cocktails & Servings
We are often asked 'how do you serve a Sloe Gin?' and 'which cocktails are Sloe Gins best for?'. Traditionally, the sugar content has seen Sloe Gin being a liqueur to be sipped neat, popularly from a hip flask as a warming tipple on a winter walk. In recent years, Sloe Gins have been used in many more servings (such as with Tonic Water or with Sparkling Wine) and a diverse range of cocktails, from twists on classic cocktails to recipes created specifically for Sloe Gins. For some inspiration, we have brought together some of our favourite Sloe Gin cocktail recipes for you to try:
Juliet & Romeo |
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Coastal Margatini |
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Sorrento Spritz |
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