Sloe gin is very much a Ronseal type of affair ... To experiment yourself, the most easily found bottle in the UK is probably Bols. You’re now subscribed to all our newsletters.

Pink gins colored with natural fruit juices will lose their pink tinge over time, especially if the bottle is left standing ... You can make your own sloe gin at home by steeping ripe sloe berries ...

Strain the gin through a sieve or funnel lined with a square of muslin into a jug or bowl. Decant into clean, dry bottles, ...

Then shake once a week for at least two months. Strain the sloe gin through muslin into a sterilised bottle. You can make blackberry brandy in the same way, substituting blackberries for the sloes ...