June 11, 2009

Sloe Gin Fizz

We've got a friend who's getting into the Sloe Gin Fizz of late, and sent an envoy to us asking if we knew any good recipes. Truth be told, we didn't, because while we've heard of this particular cocktail we've never sought it out. However, being the liquor nerds we are, we were able to dig through our many cocktail recipe books and come up with a few recipes that might fit the bill. We also found a recipe for something called a "Sloe Comfortable Screw," that we had to include just because it had an awesome name.

Find the recipes (and their sources) after the jump.

Update: We just found an article on Esquire that hints the reason for sloe gin's decline in the States - we don't have access to the real stuff, just artificially-flavored knockoffs that don't do the drink justice. Has anyone found a truly good sloe gin out there to combat this claim? Anyway, maybe that's why, as reader Megan puts it in the comments, "old people like sloe gin." It's because they've had the good stuff we don't have access to, and know what the drink can really aspire to.

Sloe Gin Fizz Recipe #1
Source: The Complete Bartender (Updated)

1oz sloe gin
2oz sour mix
club soda
Fill mixing glass with ice. Add sloe gin and sour mix. Shake. Strain into chilled Collins glass. Top with club soda. Garnish with a cherry.

Our Take: Meh. Sour mix? This strikes us as a gin fizz you'd be served at an Appleby's. There are some OK recipes in this book, but this one doesn't do it for us.

Sloe Gin Fizz Recipe #2
Source: Mr. Boston: Official Bartender's Guide

1oz lemon juice
1 tsp superfine sugar (or simple syrup)
2oz sloe gin
club soda
Shake lemon juice, sweetener, and sloe gin with ice and strain into chilled highball glass with two ice cubes. Top with club soda and stir. Garnish with a slice of lemon.

Our Take: Now we're getting somewhere. Double the sloe gin, plus real ingredients instead of premade sour mix? This is one we'd feel OK making for our friends.

Sloe Gin Fizz Recipe #3
Source: The Craft of the Cocktail (Available used)

1oz sloe gin
1oz gin
3/4oz lemon juice
1oz simple syrup
3 to 4 oz soda water or seltzer
orange slice and cherry for garnish
Shake the first four ingredients with ice and strain into an ice-filled highball glass. Top with soda and garnish with the orange and cherry.

Our Take: This might be our favorite, because the added dry gin would cut the sweetness and give it a slightly different flavor profile. For the win!

Sloe Comfortable Screw Bonus Recipe
Source: The Craft of the Cocktail (Available used)

1oz sloe gin
1oz Southern Comfort
4oz fresh orange juice
orange slice for garnish
Build in a highball glass, garnish with orange slice.

Our Take: Simple and sweet (like us) this is a sloe gin recipe we've just got to try. Also, screw comes from the fact it's similar to a screwdriver, so get your mind out of the gutter.