I will be picking the sloes next week . Then I store them in the freezer for a week. Then I prick them with a fork and half fill a bottle with sloes add an equal weight of sugar top up the bottle with gin . and leave for at least two months , turn the bottle once a week . For those who are new to sloes here they are http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prunus_spinosa Does anyone have any other recipies for making sloe gin .
I used to know a family who did something similar with damsons .
David
Living in Anjou , France,
For the many not for the few
http://www.permies.com/t/80/31583/projects/Permie-Pennies-France#330873
Sounds delicious! I've never done sloes in gin, but I've infused lots of fruits into vodka. Strawberries and blueberries are guaranteed crowd-pleasers. Spicy peppers, not so much. Ah well.
I was about to say I've never seen a sloe, but wiki says it's naturalised here so I probably have without realising!
I will check around in sloe season.
As the alcohol is the the preservative and I'm never in a hurry (sugar speeds these processes right up), I'd reduce the sugar to suit my tastes.
Also, no need to prick the fruit if your freezing them-
freezing expands the water in cells, bursting the cell walls and doing the work for you
My first sloe!
There were a lot of blossom on this tree, but it obviously didn`t set well...I think it`ll be another year or so before I`ll be infusing with these.