Review

SLOEmotion
No.7 Fruit Cup Gin

SLOEmotion Ltd., Barton-Le-Willows, York, North Yorkshire (London Dry Gin made by Thames Distillers Ltd., Clapham, London), England, UK.

SLOEmotion Ltd.

The business was initially established in 2002 at Manor farm in Malton by Julie and Richard Brown. By 2007 the business had grown and it had to move to bigger premises in Barton-Le-Willows. Today’s owner and Managing Director Jonathan Curtoys (along with his brother Julian) has a keen eye for agriculture and ecology and uses this in his farming and conservational practices. Their flagship product is sloe Gin, and they have built an outstanding range of allied products, including the use of spent fruit from their spirit production to create culinary delights (e.g. sloe gin truffles). SLOEmotion No7 was launched for summer 2013.

Thames Distillers is run by Charles Maxwell who is the 8th generation of the family (founders of the Finsbury Distillery) who have been producing Gin since 1700 – making them the oldest unbroken lineage in Gin distillation.

Uses a London Dry Gin as the base spirit, made by Thames Distillers in London. This base Gin is infused with a blend fruits, herbs and blossom from hedgerows, orchards and fields – referred to as “a foragers (liquid) feast.”

The ruby red colored Gin is presented in a tall clear cylindrical bottle with a white “funky” colored label depicting simple and multi-colored outdoor summer party images. The label is the creation of Owen Turner from United by Design based in York, England.

Flavored Gin – Fruit Cup.

25% (50 Proof).

$$$$$. Not available in the USA, but is available for delivery within the European Union from the SLOEmotion website.

Unknown but includes cherry, damson and possibly elderflower and sloeberry.

The name is a pun on replacing the word “slow” with “Sloe” (after their flagship Sloe Gin product) and it is a slow motion process – the blackthorn bushes, the sloeberries grow on, are the first to flower each season but one of the last to bear fruit (not to mention the steeping period of 3 to 4 months). We like the marketing tag line (used on their bottles) of “Life on the hedge”. This offering is their seventh drink product in their portfolio hence the name, SLOEmotion No.7.

On the nose are red fruit (cherry and plum) and floral (elderflower) aromas, with just a hint of peppery spice. On the palate this smooth spirit has a clear fruity tart flavor (cherry and damson) with citrus and floral (elderflower) notes coming through plus a hint of spice (cinnamon). On the close the fruity taste continues as it develops a peppery dry (rhubarb tart) finish.

This can be drunk neat as a winter warmer but is perhaps a little on the bitter tart side to be really enjoyable. However, like the ubiquitous Pimm’s, this is made to be mixed with 4 parts lemonade or ginger ale to 1 part SLOEmotion No.7 with ice, slices of citrus fruit and garnish. Garnish can be simply a sprig or two of mint but could include lemon balm leaves and/or summer blossoms (e.g. elderflower). In this standard mix the drink really comes into it’s own, creating a well balanced offering of traditional fruit flavors but with a key differentiation of floral notes.

This is easy to strongly recommend for a great summer party drink or just “kicking back” on a hot summers afternoon with one or two friends or family.

Unknown.