Bath Botanics Sloe Gin

Bath Botanics Sloe GinSloe ginA liqueur made by steeping sloe berries in gin, then sweetening it. It is usually bottled between 25% and 30% ABV.GlossarySee Sloe gin gins is a 25% ABV seasonal fruit gin made by steeping sloe berries in the distillery's No.1 Gin. It is bottled in a 50 cl format and follows the harvest of local, biodynamic and wild-grown fruit around Bath. Sloe is the small, tart fruit of the blackthorn, and its macerationMacerationBotanicals soak in alcohol, from a few hours to several days, before distillation to release their aromas.Glossary gives the spirit a darker colour and a more rounded fruit character than the dry house gin beneath it.

Limited Edition · Fruity · Earthy

The No.1 Gin is distilled in a copper pot stillPot stillA traditional still, often copper, that distils in batches. It keeps more texture and character than a column.Glossary with juniperJuniperThe one compulsory botanical: gin must taste predominantly of juniper. Its "berry" is really a small conifer cone, resinous and peppery.Glossary, Somerset lime flowers, coriander, angelica, liquorice, cardamom, star anise, cassia and lemon peel. Those ingredients remain important after the sloes are steeped: juniper and citrus keep the drink recognisably gin-led, while angelica, liquorice and the warm spices give the fruit a deeper botanical frame. Natural cane sugar is used sparingly to develop the maceration. There are no artificial flavourings or colourings, and a little natural fruit pulp can occur in the bottle.

The nose leans towards hedgerow fruit, with a tart, vinous edge that sits beside lemon peel and juniper.

The palate is rounder than a London dry ginLondon DryA style, not a place of origin: every flavour comes from distilling natural botanicals. After distillation only water and a trace of sugar may be added, with no flavouring or colouring.GlossarySee London Dry gins, but the sloe's natural astringency keeps the sweetness in check. Spice and roots from the base gin emerge more clearly towards the finish, where cardamom, cassia and angelica add depth to the fruit. Chilled, the balance is particularly clear: ripe berry notes lead, then give way to a dry, gently spiced finish.

Bath Botanics enjoys its Sloe Gin over ice or with Indian tonicIndian tonicThe classic tonic: sparkling water, bitter quinine and sugar. The name recalls colonial India, where quinine warded off malaria.Glossary and a slice of lemon. For a long drink, pour 5 cl over large clear ice cubes in a balloon glass and add 12 cl of Indian tonic. Slide in one thin lemon slice and stir once, gently. The citrus cuts through the rounded sloe character while the modest amount of tonic keeps the seasonal fruit and the No.1 Gin botanicals present.