Sloe gin

What are the board's thoughts on this interesting and not quite sure what to make of it spirit? While bourbon is my go to drink of choice, gin has become my runner up, and it's my go to when I want something more refreshing. Now enter the sloe gin to the mix, and I am puzzled.

I know I am not supposed to like it, because it is similar to a liquer than a liquor (am I doing this right?). But damn, there is something really good about it. I bought a bottle of Plymouth a few months ago just to see what it is, but I didn't really know what to do with it. I started putting a little in my gin and tonic, and I thought it was a nice change. Then I forgot about it for a while.


The other day I saw it, dug it out and looked up some recipes online. Ok, I found one that looked pretty good. blackthorn is what they called it. Now this one is not the one I found, because there is no dry gin in it. This would be too sweet. For whatever reason I can't find the one I liked and have been drinking, but here is the mixture:

2oz sloe gin
1oz gin
1oz sweet vermouth
angostura
orange bitters


This is a killer drink. It's super refreshing without being too sweet. The orange bitters I added to the recipe, because, well, I like them. I highly recommend giving this a try. I think I will cut back on the sloe gin though to cut the sweetness back a bit more, but this is really good.


Any other suggestions to use this bottle? Sloe gin negronis I have been liking, but the sloe gin fizz is not for me. That's about all I have been seeing for the most part. I am curious how many others enjoy this spirit (not to sound pompous using that word, but I genuinely don't know if this is a liquer or not), and in what ways do you use it.