Sloe Gin Fizz

A bright, tart, berry-flavoured take on the gin fizz, a sloe gin fizz is a cheerful, ruby ​​red, sparkling cocktail. It’s a member of the gin fizz family, with gin, citrus, a sweetener and sparkling water, but instead of standard gin, a sloe gin and sometimes an egg white is used.

What is sloe?

Sloe, pronounced ‘slow’, is a type of fruit found in England – it grows in abundance in thorny hedges. It is slightly larger than a blueberry and belongs to the same family as plums. The taste is plum-like, but they are very sour and bitter. When combined with sugar in the same way as rhubarb, they can turn into delicious jams, syrups and liquors like sloe schnapps.

Most, but not all, sloe gin brands originate from England. Hayman’s and Plymouth are brands available throughout the United States. There are also some manufacturers in the US, like Spirit Works and Averell, who use sloe or plum.

Sloe gin is traditionally infused with baking spices like cinnamon and cardamom. With those heady, warming flavors, it’s no wonder it’s a drink particularly enjoyed during the holidays.

The best citrus for sloe gin fizz

Traditionally, fresh lemon juice is used to make gin fizz, including the sloe gin fizz. You can use fresh lime juice instead. The sparkling, floral notes of lime go very well with the sloe gin. In fact, I prefer it to lemon juice. Try one of each and decide which you like best.

Add an egg white if you like

An egg white is often added to give the cocktail a dramatic, frothy head and silky smooth texture. Use 1 egg white for 1 cocktail. First, shake the egg whites dry with the sloe gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup — this means shaking the ingredients in a cocktail shaker without ice to create foam. Then add ice and shake again to cool and properly dilute the cocktail.

If you are concerned about uncooked egg whites, use boxed pasteurized egg whites. You can find it near the eggs at your local grocery store. Make sure it’s only egg white with no additives.

Aquafaba is a great alternative to egg whites. It’s the liquid in a can of chickpeas and can be used just like an egg white.

How to serve sloe gin fizz

You’ll need a tall glass that holds about 12 ounces, like a Collins glass. It should be spacious enough to hold the ice cream and the rest of the ingredients. No need to worry about the type of ice cream – any ice cream from your freezer is fine!

And the same simplicity applies to the garnish. A simple lemon or lime wheel hints at the citrus in the cocktail. This is especially helpful when I make several with different citrus juices. For example, my husband prefers the classic lemon juice while I go for lime, and the garnish tells us at a glance what’s what.

Fan of gin in cocktails?

• Gin martini
• Gin cocktail with cucumber and basil
• Gimlet cocktail
• Tom Collins
• Cherry pop cocktail