What Is Sloe Gin? Exploring the Fine Line Between Liqueur and Liquor

Most popularaly associated with the Sloe Gin Fizz cocktail, sloe gin is a juniper spirit-based product that rides the fine line between liqueur and liquor.

Whether you’re a gin connoisseur or just starting your gin journey, you may have crossed paths with sloe gin. With tasting notes like plum, raisin, cherry, almond and pomegranate, sloe gin (pronounced like “slow”) makes for quite the pleasant addition to your next gin-inspired beverage.

What Is Sloe Gin?

Sloe gin is an alcoholic product that derives its stunning color and jammy flavor from sloe — also known as blackthorn — a wild hedgerow plum related to the rose family. The deep indigo fruit blossoms on spiny branches and finds its native home in Europe.

Blackthorn, or sloe, growing on branches. These stunning fruits are a key ingredient in sloe gin. (Photo: Wild Your Garden with Joel Ashton/YouTube)

By itself, sloe fruit is too tart to eat. This is where sugar steps in. Besides being used in a fruity tipple commonly associated with a fizzy cocktail, the astringent fruit is also featured in pies and jams. Sloe gin is just as brightly flavored as it is syrupy sweet, but is it really gin?

Liquor Vs. Liqueur

For a booze product to be classified as liquor, it must have a minimum alcohol by volume of 37.5%. Gin starts its life as a neutral grain spirit which is then infused or distilled with an extensive range of botanicals like coriander, pepper and citrus rind. In addition to these botanicals, gin is made with juniper berries — a necessity for both taste and classification. Therefore, gin is a juniper spirit with a minimum ABV of 37.5% in the United Kingdom and 40% in the United States. 

Liqueurs, on the other hand, offer lower percentages of alcohol. For a booze product to be classified as a liqueur, it will be on the 15% to 30% ABV scale and contain a substantial sugar content. Liqueurs typically have a thicker consistency because of this and, depending on who you ask, are delightfully easy to drink. Liqueurs can be flavored like coffee, fruit, cream, nuts and flowers. While the flavor list goes on, simply keep in mind that if your bottle of spirit is of a lower ABV and tastes very sweet, it is most likely a liqueur. You’ll also know based on which aisle you purchased it in. 

However, this is where the classification of sloe gin might perplex a buyer since it can be found in both the gin and liqueur sections of a liquor store. 

Where Does Sloe Gin Stand?

Sloe gin is a gin-based liqueur. Sloe gin utilizes gin as a base spirit, which is then infused with sloe fruit and additional botanicals. Sugar or another sweetener is then added to create the final product. Other popular liqueurs that use a specific spirit as a base are RumChata (rum-based) and Baileys Irish Cream (Irish whiskey-based).

Just like gin needs juniper, sloe gin needs sloe. The fruity liqueur sits in the 15% to 30% ABV range and is typically found among the liqueur or cordial shelves of your standard bottle shop. 

Still, the realm of full-proof sloe gins is one that has not gone unexplored. Plenty of distilleries (such as Settlers Spirits) produce a full-strength sloe gin. This comes to the delight of many, as some imbibers find they prefer the tasting notes of sloe without all the added sweetness.

So, to properly determine whether you’re sipping on a sweet boozy treat or full-strength liquor, just look at your sloe gin’s ABV and then enjoy it in a fun cocktail or perfectly neat. Sloe gin is often enjoyed in a Sloe Gin Fizz or on the rocks in warmer weather. To savor the tipple during winter, try sloe gin hot or as a feature in your future toddy.

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