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.

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Cocktail Ingredients

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

Tonic Water: This is a carbonated water that has been infused with quinine. I used QMixers Tonic Water.

Sloe Gin: This is a liqueur made with sloes, sugar, alcohol, and water. I used Plymouth Sloe Gin.

Ruby Port: This is a fortified wine made in Portugal with a blend of red grapes. I used Sandeman Fine Ruby Porto.

Apricot Brandy: This is a liqueur made with apricots, spices, sugar, and brandy. I used Phillips Apricot Brandy.

Red Wine Syrup: This is a sweetener made with Cabernet Sauvignon and sugar. I made mine using this stovetop recipe.

Aromatic Bitters: This is a food product made with botanicals, herbs, and alcohol. I used Angostura Aromatic Bitters.

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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.

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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 Rating: ⭐

Kendall's Take: "It's been a really long time since I've had a drink made with sloe gin, so I didn't really know what to expect of this recipe. I will admit I did not think it would be as off-putting as I found it to be, especially given its categorization as a Christmas cocktail. Maybe I'm just not used to tonic water's quinine bitterness, but I did not like the juxtaposition of the mixer alongside the other candy-sweet ingredients. Adding red wine syrup definitely helped, but the Let It Sloe just wasn't for me. If anyone's going to tempt me to it again, I think it would need a lot of work before I'd find it truly palatable."

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Recipe

This cocktail recipe was adapted from Have Yourself a Merry Little Cocktail: 80 Cheerful Tipples to Warm Up Winter by Emma Stokes.