An oft-forgotten product that deserves some attention is sloe gin. Essentially, it’s classic gin soaked in sloe berries from the blackthorn bush for a few weeks until it absorbs loads of flavour and colour. The resulting plum coloured spirit is delicious, with earthy, berry richness which develops in tang and dryness as it crosses the palate. Playing around with substitutions for gin this spring will get you ready for summer. The classic Tom Collins with Plymouth Sloe Gin is transcendental! This cocktail is a simple yet effective mix of gin, lemon and sugar charged with soda and served over ice. All barkeeps in the know should be able to mix you a tasty one without fuss, but if you are steering the ship, try this recipe: in a tall glass, mix 45mls of sloe gin with 20mls of freshly pressed lemon juice (it takes around 20 minutes for lemon juice to begin seriously oxidising, and like sweet corn that’s just been picked, it’ll never be the same again!) and 15mls of sugar syrup (equal parts white sugar and warm water stirred until clear). Stir briefly to introduce a little dilution, before topping with more ice and soda. If you happen to be wandering in a country garden wearing a nice shirt and vest while sipping one of these, you may even slip back in time. Consider yourself duly warned.