R. Jelinek Sloe Gin
R. Jelinek Sloe Gin is a 56-proof (28% ABV) 700mL fruit liqueur from Vizovice in the Czech Republic, made by macerating blackthorn (sloe) berries in gin for a deep red pour with sweet-tart fruit and a distinctive almond-like bitterness. Distilled and bottled by Rudolf Jelinek a.s. — a house whose distillery records in Vizovice date to 1585 — it earned a Gold Medal and 92 points at the 2024 Bartender Spirits Awards. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 28% (56 proof)
- Size: 700mL (official US site; some US retailers list 750mL)
- Style: sloe gin — blackthorn berries macerated in gin
- Origin: Vizovice, Czech Republic — Rudolf Jelinek a.s.
- Awards: Gold, 2024 Bartender Spirits Awards (92 points)
The Czech Answer to a Very English Classic
Sloe gin is an old English country-house liqueur, but Jelinek — the great Czech fruit-distilling house — makes a convincing case that blackthorn berries know no borders. The sloes are steeped until their dusky red color and sharp, plum-like fruit infuse the gin base, and the finished liqueur keeps the gentle almond bitterness that separates real sloe gin from simple berry syrups. See the R. Jelinek collection, the gin shelf, and the liqueurs at Del Mesa.
Tasting Notes
Deep ruby red. The nose is sweet dark fruit — plum, blackberry, a hint of marzipan — over soft gin botanicals. The palate is lush and sweet-tart, the sloe berries giving dark-fruit richness balanced by a tart, almost almond-like dryness on the finish that keeps it from being cloying.
How to Enjoy
Neat or over ice as a digestif, with tonic and a twist of lemon for a classic Sloe Gin Fizz, or in a Charlie Chaplin (equal parts sloe gin, apricot brandy, and lime juice). It also warms beautifully in winter punches.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is sloe gin and how is it different from regular gin?
Sloe gin is a liqueur — blackthorn (sloe) berries macerated in gin with sugar — sweet and fruity at 28% ABV, not a dry distilled spirit.
Why is a sloe gin made in the Czech Republic?
Jelinek is one of Europe's great fruit distillers, based in Vizovice since the 16th century — sloe berries grow across the region and the house knows how to handle fruit.
What size bottle is R. Jelinek Sloe Gin?
700mL per the official US site; a few US retailers list it as 750mL — the bottle will settle it.
A continental classic — order R. Jelinek Sloe Gin online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.