The origins of SLOE Gin are not well documented, but our evidence suggests that the enclosure of the countryside in the 16th and 17th centuries – where large tracts of open land were carved up into smaller fields – was largely achieved using blackthorn (the plant that produces sloes) as a hedge plant due to its vigorous growth and sharp thorns.  Though sloe pickers love to hate those thorns, they were good at keeping stock in and people out! 

This widespread use of the blackthorn in hedges dramatically increased the availability of sloes.  Those ancient country folk, like us, didn’t like to see things go to waste and finding the sloe too bitter to eat, thought that the only solution was to soak it in alcohol and sugar; the drink of choice at the time being gin.  What a good idea.