Sloe Gin

(n.): Not a true gin, but a tart-sweet liqueur flavored with black thorn sloe berries (a relative to the plum) and made with a gin base. Brownish to ruby red in color, this English spirit is made by infusing gin with the astringent fruit, then adding sugar. In England and Ireland, it is most often made at home, though commercial brands do exist. In 2008, Plymouth, famous for producing its signature gin, released a version based on an 1883 recipe to great acclaim. The liqueur may be served neat, over ice or in cocktails, most famously the Sloe Gin Fizz.