I visited Greenall’s Distillery and met Master Distiller Joanne Moore who has crafted a gin which can be sipped on its own (I did that) or enjoyed in a cocktail (I did that too).
Greenall’s Sloe Gin (RRP £18, amazon.co.uk, 26% abv) is a new kid on the block just in time for frosty nights and frosty toes.
The nose is heady with almonds and cherries – it reminded me of those little Mr Kipling slices. My tour was punctuated with some tasty sloe gin cocktails. created by Greenall’s gin curator Alix Walker.
Here’s some of them:
Greenall’s 1761 Royale
You need: 25ml Greenall’s Sloe Gin; 50ml prosecco; a blackberry to garnish and sprig of rosemary. Make it: Pour the fizz over ice in a coupe glass. Lightly bruise the rosemary then drop in the glass. Slowly pour in the gin so it sinks to the bottom. Sip and occasionally stir with the rosemary.
![Greenalls Sloe Gin](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_1000,h_1334/https://www.onefootinthegrapes.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Greenalls-1761-Royale-cocktail.jpg)
Greenall’s Edward’s Breakfast
You need: 50ml of Greenall’sSloe Gin, ginger ale, lime wedges. Make it: Fill a rocks glass with ice and pour in the sloe gin. Squeeze and drop in the lime wedges. Top with ginger ale.
(As you can see, this was perfect with canapes)
![Greenall's Sloe Gin](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_600,h_800/https://www.onefootinthegrapes.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/greenalls-sloe-gin-Edwards-Breakfast-cocktail-e1509129893558.jpg)
Greenall’s Sloe Time
You need: 50mls Greenall’s Sloe Gin, 150ml cloudy lemonade, sprig of thyme, lemon slice. Make it: Fill a tall glass with ice, pour in the sloe gin. Slowly pour in the cloudy lemonade or (lemon tonic water). Garnish with a sprig of thyme and a lemon slice.
![Greenall's Sloe Gin](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_750,h_1000/https://www.onefootinthegrapes.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Greenalls-Sloe-Time.jpg)
Take It Sloe Toddy:
You need: 50ml Greenall’s Sloe Gin, 100ml cloudy apple juice, 50ml orange juice, two cloves and a cinnamon stick. Make it: Pour the gin into a cup then gently warm the apple juice and orange juice with the cloves and cinnamon stick. Carefully pour into the cup. over the gin. Garnish with an orange wheel and a cinnamon stick.
(I forgot to take a picture #doh …but here’s one the Greenall’s team prepared)
![Greenall's Sloe Gin](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_800,h_600/https://www.onefootinthegrapes.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Take-It-Sloe-Toddy-Greenalls.jpg)
Follow Greenalls Sloe Gin ideas via the Twitter hashtag #takeitsloe
How Greenalls Sloe Gin is made
Joanne Moore has followed the traditional method of gin-making at Greenalls; there’s a basic secret recipe known only to Joanne and the master distillers before her; then the sloe berries are added and mixed by hand. The maceration of the berries in the gin takes eight weeks. The original gin is based on eight botanicals – juniper, coriander, angelica, orris, almind, cassia bark, lemon peel and liquorice root. Discover more at www.greenallsgin.com