Since you can’t have too many Collins, I’m featuring the Sloe Gin Collins today. Collins drinks are distinguished by the tall glass and garnishes of a cherry, lemon wedge and orange slice.
Sloe gin itself is a real treat. It’s made from taking sloe berries (in the plum family, so imagine that flavor in a drink) and using them and some sugar to infuse gin. This traditional method has been abandoned somewhat in favor of taking neutral spirits and flavoring them with sloe berry juice, but some still prefer to do it the old fashioned way. If you prefer, you can also make sloe gin at home (the tricky part is finding ripe sloe berries).
Sloe Gin Collins
- 1 oz fresh lemon juice
- 1 1/2 oz sloe gin
Shake in a cocktail shaker with ice and strain. Pour into a tall glass, then fill glass with ice and club soda. Garnish with lemon wedge, cherry and orange slice. This drink is sweet, thanks in part to the sloe gin and a lack of anything stronger than lemon juice to balance it out. The color is also lovely too, a sort of light burgundy-purple. I’m becoming a big fan of this and could easily see myself drinking this all summer long.
Eddie, I don’t know you but I will drink that with you if you open it.
May 14, 2009 at 4:54 pmlet me ask my therapist if i’m allowed female company.. hold on..
ok, she says only if you’re a lightweight and are prone to giving away all of your cash when you smell the scent of berries.
May 14, 2009 at 5:18 pmEdward you’re a fag. Why did you not tell me. We could have had Sloe Gin Fizzes all last summer. Then again, hit me up in a month.
May 15, 2009 at 7:49 am
i have a full, unopened bottle of sloe gin just sitting in my kitchen, but this drink doesn’t look like it has enough kick to open it up for (don’t know if i’ll ever use it). slow gin is only 60 proof at best and with all of that other floof, it seems like it would be the equivalent to drinking 1/4 of a light beer. then again, if you’re a lightweight…
May 14, 2009 at 4:28 pm