Cocktail bar: Sloe gin

Cocktail bar: Sloe gin (Photo: Gemini)

Sloe gin has its origins in the English countryside. In the 1600s, farmers would pick berries from hedgerows and mix them with gin to create a warming winter drink. It became known as “poor man’s port.” By the late 1800s, commercial production had begun, with companies making sloe gin in factories to supply city bars.

When sloe gin reached America, bartenders reinvented how it was enjoyed. Rather than drinking it plain in winter, they added lemon and sparkling water, creating a cold summer cocktail called the Sloe Gin Fizz. It gained popularity in the early 1900s, alongside other inventive drinks such as the Charlie Chaplin, crafted in the grand hotels of New York. Though real sloe gin fell out of fashion for a time, replaced by sugary imitations, it has since had a revival. Today, bartenders return to the traditional recipe, crafting high-quality cocktails with authentic flavour.