GIN makers from across the UK will be on a mission in Woodstock at the weekend to find the best sloe gin.

The Feathers Hotel in Market Street knows all about gin, including the sloe variety made from blackthorn.

The hotel holds the Guinness World Record for the largest number of gins, with 184 varieties.

General manager Peter Saunders, 28, is organising the sloe gin contest tomorrow and Saturday.

He said: “We are gin freaks and excited about welcoming enthusiasts from around the country.

“We’ve already had 14 entrants and we hope for a good mix of commercial and independent brewers plus people who pop in to taste what’s on offer.

“Our fascination started a few years back when a barman started ordering unusual varieties.

“We now have gins from around the world, including a Spanish gin that tastes of herbs and olives and Blackwoods 60 per cent proof, which we mix with quinine from the Andes and Blenheim spring water to make our Ultimate Gin and Tonic.

“One customer said we could hold the world record for the most gins.

“So we contacted Guinness and we were entered into the record book with 172 varieties on site.

“That has gone up to 184.

“Sloe gin has faded into the background so this is all about discovering it again.”

Unlike clear gin, sloe gin is a red liqueur flavoured with sloe, a wild relative of the plum.

Judges for the Sloe Gin Challenge will be busy tomorrow and there will be a public day on Saturday. Tickets cost £15.

Commercial and home brewers can enter the competition, with the best home brewer winning an overnight stay in the hotel.

A winner will be chosen from the top three gins in each category.

Entrants must be 18 years or over and declare if the gin is commercial or home-made. All entries must reach the hotel by noon tomorrow.

MAKE YOUR OWN

You will need:

  • About 500g ripe sloes
  • About 250g sugar
  • About 1 litre of gin (or you can use vodka for a purer flavour)
  • Prick the sloes with a fork and put them in a Kilner jar. Pour on sugar and gin, close the lid, and shake every day until the sugar has dissolved.
  • Store in a dark cupboard, then strain out the sloes through muslin after three months.
  • Bottle your gin, store in a cupboard and keep it as long as you can.