Artisan sloe gin makers from across the world gathered at a village pub on the Kent/Sussex border near Tunbridge Wells, to vie for the coveted ‘Sloe Ginster World Champion’ title for 2015 on Wednesday 16th December.
Now an annual event, hosted by The George Inn in Frant, this was the 7th such competition.
Glasgow-based “liquid deli” Demijohn was crowned Sloe Ginster World Champion for the second year running.
Curiously Kentish, based in Birchington in Thanet, won the award for Best Liqueur with its Sloe Vodka.
The silver medal went to Master of Malt’s Bath Tub Gin, which is made locally in Tunbridge Wells. The bronze medal went to a former winner Sloe Seducation from Marden in Kent.
The home made category, which attracted more than 20 entries, a record number, was won by Kevin Wadley of Dartford.
Last year’s winner of the home made category, Grace Winey returned to present the awards. Winey, originally from the Portuguese Azores islands, travelled down from her home in Bury-St Edmunds in Suffolk, with her American husband to attend.
Demijohn, which also has outlets in Edinburgh, Glasgow, York and Oxford, took the award from among professional entrants, ships its liqueurs worldwide through its mail order operation.
Demijohn’s winning sloe gin described by judge and former world champion Dave Bennett as, “Not too sweet, not too dry and a perfect drink for the winter,” is based on a family recipe dating back to 1842. It is made for made by a husband and wife team, Colin and Phyllis Hingston, in Worcestershire. Although the recipe, which uses London dry gin, is a closely guarded secret, Demijohn MD Angus Ferguson advises those making their own concoction “Never infuse for less than 10 months to ensure a rich and deep flavour.”
The poor summer provided ideal growing conditions for sloes or drupes – the bitter fruit of the blackthorn bush and forages are now eagerly awaiting the first frost, after which, by tradition, the berries are harvested.
All proceeds of the event are donated to the MS which supports people with Multiple Sclerosis – www.mssociety.org.uk.
