First Impressions
Neil Beckett hand-picks sloe berries from Box Hill in Surrey — the same picturesque chalk escarpment where he forages English juniper for his London Dry. The sloes are steeped in Beckett's gin, which contains six botanicals: juniper, mint, lime, orris root, sweet orange peel, and coriander. That riverside mint is the secret weapon — it adds a menthol freshness to the traditional sloe gin that prevents it from becoming merely sweet and jammy. BBC Good Food declared it one of the best.
Tasting
The nose is intensely fruity — black cherry, sloe berries, and plums with marzipan leading. On the palate at 29%, delicious stewed red fruits with plums and almonds, pine from the juniper, fresh citrus, and hints of mint. The riverside mint adds a lovely menthol note to the rich fruit and cherry flavours. The finish is cherry and almond with mint freshness cutting through the sweetness.
The Bottom Line
Beckett's Sloe earns a 7 — the mint botanical in the base gin is what sets this apart from every other sloe gin. That menthol freshness transforms the category, preventing the cloying sweetness that plagues lesser sloe gins. Hand-picked from Box Hill and steeped with care. Best sipped neat or in a Sloe Gin Fizz where the mint and fizz create something electric. At £37, a sloe gin with a point of difference.
