What is Sloe Gin? How is it different to normal Gin?

Sloe Gin is in fact a type of Gin Liqueur, made from blackthorn fruit (sloe berries). The berries are soaked in gin with sugar, and that really is about it. The level of sugar determines both sweetness and the level of extraction of flavour and colour from the sloe berries. Over time the liquid will turn red and then it is up to the producer how long they mature it in the berries for.

The result is a sweet, fruity liquid with lower alcohol than traditional gin, which is made with juniper berries rather than sloe.