Let It Sloe

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Cocktail History

The Let It Sloe is a Christmas cocktail that was created by Emma Stokes and was first published in her book Have Yourself a Merry Little Cocktail: 80 Cheerful Tipples to Warm Up Winter.

The recipe is a creative twist on a classic tonic-based beverage, blending port wine and sloe gin—a fruity, slightly tart liqueur—with apricot brandy to add a touch of sweetness and warmth. Aromatic bitters also provide a final layer of complexity, balancing the flavors to create a dry yet distinctive cocktail. Its name is a clever nod to the holiday classic “Let It Snow,” making it a charming choice for festive gatherings or cozy nights in.

Cocktail Ingredients

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Tonic Water: This is a carbonated beverage made with water quinine, and added minerals, which are infused with carbon dioxide gas to develop a fizzy, bitter flavor.

Sloe Gin: This is a liqueur made with sloe berries, white sugar, and gin, which are blended and infused to develop a tart, slightly sweet berry flavor.

Ruby Port Wine: This is a type of wine made in Portugal with red grapes and yeast, which are fermented with the grape skins to produce alcohol, fortified with brandy, and then aged briefly to develop a bold, fruity flavor.

Apricot Brandy: This is a type of brandy made with fermented apricot juice and yeast, which are distilled and aged to develop a smooth, stone fruit flavor.

Red Wine Syrup: This is a sweetener made with red wine and white sugar, which are heated and infused into a syrup with a deep, grape flavor.

Aromatic Bitters: This is a concentrated flavoring made with a blend of herbs, spices, roots, and botanicals, and distilled alcohol, which are macerated or steeped to develop an aromatic, bittersweet flavor.

Brands I Used

• 🔗 Fentimens Sparkling Tonic Water
• 🔗 Fords Sloe Gin
• 🔗 Sandeman Fine Ruby Porto
• 🔗 Blume Marillen Apricot Eau-De-Vie
• 🔗 Angostura Aromatic Bitters

Bartending Tools

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:

Bar Mat: This is a rubber or silicone mat that’s placed on the bar surface to catch spills, provide grip for glasses and tools, and keep the workspace clean and organized. I used the Highball & Chaser 18×12 Bar Mat.

Jigger: This is a small, double-sided measuring tool that’s used to accurately portion spirits and mixers, typically with one side measuring 1 oz and the other 1.5 or 2 oz. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.

Bar Spoon: This is a long-handled spoon with a twisted shaft that’s used for stirring, layering, and reaching the bottom of tall cocktail glasses. I used the Barfly Stainless Steel Teardrop Bar Spoon.

Lowball Glass: This is a short, wide glass with a thick base that’s used for serving spirits neat or on the rocks. I used a thrifted lowball glass.

Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

• Appearance: Dark red hue with an ombré effect

• Aroma: Fruity sloe liqueur

• Taste: A dry flavor that blends deep red port wine, sweet sloe, fruit, and herbs

• Finish: Tonic’s bitter quinine notes

Kendall’s Take
“Sloe gin brings such a distinct, berry-forward sweetness to a cocktail, and the Let It Sloe leans fully into that personality. The tonic adds a bracing edge that keeps things from tipping too candy-like, especially once the red wine syrup rounds everything out. It’s a bold flavor combination that definitely stands out among traditional Christmas drinks—a festive option for anyone who enjoys a little contrast in their glass.”

Recipe

This cocktail recipe was found in the book Have Yourself a Merry Little Cocktail: 80 Cheerful Tipples to Warm Up Winter by Emma Stokes.