While we think of the blackthorn as being very British, they are widespread in the rest of Europe, parts of Eastern North America and even New Zealand. 

Paxtaran is a common sloe-based drink in the Navarra region of Spain, and in German-speaking countries a very similar liqueur is called Schlehenfeuer (literally: sloe fire). 

We are also planning to do some on-location research into the rumoured existence of the “Festival of the Sloe” in Ibiza.