It’s time to sieve your sloe gin in time for the annual competition organised by Rye News.
The homebrew sloe gin challenge takes place on Wednesday 11 March at Rye’s Waterworks pub on Tower Street, with judging at 8pm.
Last year the sloe gin winner was Redmond Kingsland, with the winner of the spirit-based category Larry Wilson and his damson liqueur.
Entries need to be in a glass container containing at least 100ml of sloe gin for judging (more if possible so we all can have a taste).
It must be homemade and labelled with the name of the person entering.
Sloe gin makers can also leave their entries at the Waterworks for the competition. Any spirit-based tipple can also be entered, which could include blackberry whiskey, elderberry liquor, raspberry gin, damson gin and elderflower gin. All would be welcome to be judged in the spirit-based category.
All entries will be blind tasted by the judges, with locals invited to taste the entries at the end of an enjoyable and fun evening.
Brewing sloe gin in Rye goes back at least to the 18th century at East Guldeford Brewery, later known as Chapmans Brewery, on Military Road. One of their best known products was Romney Marsh sloe gin, which was advertised as a “winter beverage.”
Image Credits: Chris Lawson .