Sloe Gin Fizz, Cocktail #72

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The Sloe Gin Fizz is cocktail number 72 on the Swank Cocktail Guide.

Sloe Gin Fizz cocktail history

Before you say, “Ugh, Sloe Gin? That nasty stuff people used to drink back in high school or college?” – let’s start with the history of sloe gin.

Sloe gin has been made for centuries in Britain using sloes, which are small berries that look similar to blueberries and grow wild in English hedgerows. Per this 1883 newspaper article recipe, all you needed were some sloes, sugar, gin, bottles, and patience.

1883 Sloe Gin Recipe

Sloe Gin –Pick the sloes free of stalks, and let them be quite dry. Fill wine or other bottles, that are wide enough at the mouth to admit the fruit, with them. Next shake in as much white pounded sugar as will go in, then fill up with gin and cork. Shake well every few days for a fortnight. Leave for six months, when strain off through a piece of muslin into clean bottles. You can prick the sloes, if you like, with a pin first; some do not. This liqueur is equally good made in the same way, but with the little black cherry called Merry.

"Sloe Gin," newspaper article, The Lancaster Gazette (Lancaster, England), 22 Dec 1883, p. 3, col. 5. — “Sloe Gin,” newspaper article, *The Lancaster Gazette* (Lancaster, England), 22 Dec 1883, p. 3, col. 5.

Commercial Sloe Gin was also available in the late 1800s.

"Sloe Gin advertisement," newspaper advertisement, The Bury and Norwich Post (Bury, Suffolk, England), 20 Mar 1888, p. 4, col. 2. — “Sloe Gin advertisement,” newspaper advertisement, *The Bury and Norwich Post* (Bury, Suffolk, England), 20 Mar 1888, p. 4, col. 2.

"Sloe Gin advertisement," newspaper advertisement, The Montreal Star (Montreal, Canada), 17 May 1895, p. 8, col. 8. — “Sloe Gin advertisement,” newspaper advertisement, *The Montreal Star* (Montreal, Canada), 17 May 1895, p. 8, col. 8.

The Sloe Gin Fizz

By the turn of the century, the Sloe Gin Fizz was the new drink making its way around the world, with bowling teams even taking up the name Sloe Gin.

"Summer Drinks, Sloe Gin Fizz," newspaper article, The Buffalo Enquirer (Buffalo, New York), 11 July 1898, p. 8, col. 7. — “Summer Drinks, Sloe Gin Fizz,” newspaper article, *The Buffalo Enquirer* (Buffalo, New York), 11 July 1898, p. 8, col. 7.

"All The Girls Drink Sloe Gin Fizzes," newspaper article, The Brooklyn Citizen (Brooklyn, New York), 10 July 1905, p. 4, col. 2. — “All The Girls Drink Sloe Gin Fizzes,” newspaper article, *The Brooklyn Citizen* (Brooklyn, New York), 10 July 1905, p. 4, col. 2.

"Sloe Gins Beat Gin Fizz," newspaper article, Pittsburgh Daily Post (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 8 Dec 1907, section 2, p. 2, col. 2. — “Sloe Gins Beat Gin Fizz,” newspaper article, *Pittsburgh Daily Post* (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 8 Dec 1907, section 2, p. 2, col. 2.

The Sloe Gin of the 1970s

By the 1970s, Sloe Gin had transformed into cheap, red, syrupy alcohol that was mixed with soda or juice and quite popular at high school and college parties. It was as gross as it sounds.

Sloe Gin by Joe Bonamassa, 2007

“Sloe gin, sloe gin
Tryin’ to wash away the pain inside…”

Guitar legend, Joe Bonamassa, named an album and a song from the album Sloe Gin in 2007.

Joe Bonamassa, Portland, Maine, 2019 — Joe Bonamassa in concert, Portland, Maine, 2019.
Photo: Kimberli Hull © Cool Adventures

Today’s Plymouth Sloe Gin

Plymouth Sloe Gin returned to its historical recipe comprised of juniper berries, coriander seeds, orange peels, lemon peels, angelica root, orris root, and sloe berries.