Slammers and Sloe Gin

Alabama Slammer

1 oz sloe gin
1 oz Peachtree schnapps
1 oz orange juice
1 oz cranberry juice

This drink should be shaken well with lots of ice to make sure that it's very cold and that the liqueurs fully blend together. Both the sloe gin and peach schnapps are thick, and the drink has a syrupy sweetness to it, almost like liquid candy. The Slammer, which hardly tastes like alcohol, was a very popular feminine drink in the south during the 1960s.

Sloe gin is made from blackthorn plums, also called sloe berries. Despite it's name, it has none of the characteristics of actual gin. It is thick, sweet, and red in color. Containing only 15-30% ABV, it will most likely be found in the liqueur and cordial section of your liquor store.

Another recipe that makes use of sloe gin is the Sloe Gin Fizz. A fizz is an alcoholic drink that must contain both sour mix and soda. They were extremely popular in America between 1900 and the 1940s. The Sloe Gin Fizz, in particular, made a comeback in the late '80s when it was mentioned in the Aerosmith song "Rag Doll" which is from their 1987 album Permanent Vacation.

Sloe Gin Fizz
1 oz sloe gin
2 oz sour mix
top off w/ Sprite

Shake the sloe gin and sour mix, and pour over ice. Add the Sprite and serve.