Sloe Check

[markreilly]

just been checking some Blackthorns i planted a few years back to see how the Sloe crop was looking and the cold winter (-16oc) and wet summer in Ireland seems to have helped produce a promising crop,hows your secret bush looking ?

[Pete Franklin]

I found about 100 metres of sloe bushes in a secluded spot near my home whilst out on a walk the other day- they all had nice fruits forming. very excited about the prospect of some Sloe Gin this year.

Is there anything else you can do with these?

[kiteless]

It does seem that there is going to be a super harvest of sloes this year (compared to last year anyway). My local spot of sloe bushes is laden with berries at the moment, and the blackberries are early as well. We've already got over 3lbs in the freezer ready for wine purposes!

And sloes are only good for Sloe Gin. Nothing else.

[Pete Franklin]

sloe gin it is then. i havent got a problem with that Took advantage of a load of local cherry trees around where i live also so i have cherry brandy steeping away.

as per other thread wine making etc- i picked 5kg of blackberries last weekend which are currently fermenting away in the kitchen. may go out tomorrow and get more for jam (i think my legs have healed now)

its going to be a boozy christmas.

[Noger]

markreilly said:

hows your secret bush looking ?

Sloes are already falling in Surrey. Absolutely weighed down with them. Blackberries and plums looking good too.

Edited by Noger on Sunday 8th August 17:35

[Mobile Chicane]

kiteless said:

It does seem that there is going to be a super harvest of sloes this year (compared to last year anyway). My local spot of sloe bushes is laden with berries at the moment, and the blackberries are early as well. We've already got over 3lbs in the freezer ready for wine purposes!

And sloes are only good for Sloe Gin. Nothing else.

Try sloe vodka. Even the cheapest, roughest vodka (I used Chavsda own label) is magically transformed by the addition of sloes.

I put some in a cupboard I rarely use and forgot about it - a year later it was silkier than Silky the silkworm's silk pyjamas.

[bint]

Sloe Bacardi too bizarrely (can't stand the stuff normally).

Bushes near me are laden and ripening already. I have a feeling the frosts, if they do come, will be too late this year so I'll be using the freezer trick.

[Mobile Chicane]

bint said:

Sloe Bacardi too bizarrely (can't stand the stuff normally).

Bushes near me are laden and ripening already. I have a feeling the frosts, if they do come, will be too late this year so I'll be using the freezer trick.

Right! I'll try that.

Around where I live, it's 'you snooze, you lose'. I get out picking as soon as they're ripe and freeze them.

[mrsshpub]

kiteless said:

And sloes are only good for Sloe Gin. Nothing else.

I beg to disagree as well.........

After you've used them to make sloe gin, use the gin-soaked sloes to make sloe brandy.

Edited by mrsshpub on Sunday 8th August 18:53

[kiteless]

mrsshpub said:

kiteless said:

And sloes are only good for Sloe Gin. Nothing else.

I beg to disagree as well.........

After you've used them to make sloe gin, use the gin-soaked sloes to make sloe brandy.

Edited by mrsshpub on Sunday 8th August 18:53

Fair play.

Will the gin-soaked sloes have given up most of their flavour during the gin process though? Unsure about using a gin product to make a brandy product as well. I'm open minded, though.....

[mrsshpub]

This works well. We used it to turn some quite undrinkable brandy into something very palatable:

175g gin-soaked sloes
75g granulated sugar
450ml brandy

Put the sloes, sugar & brandy in a bottle & seal. Shake well every day until the sugar has dissolved. Leave to stand (out of sunlight) for a month or so then strain before drinking.

Edited by mrsshpub on Monday 9th August 15:17

[Don]

You can make Sloe wine. My old mum used to do it. Absolutely lovely.

[rhinochopig]

kiteless said:

It does seem that there is going to be a super harvest of sloes this year (compared to last year anyway). My local spot of sloe bushes is laden with berries at the moment, and the blackberries are early as well. We've already got over 3lbs in the freezer ready for wine purposes!

And sloes are only good for Sloe Gin. Nothing else.

Not at all true - take the gin soaked sloes and turn them into sloe chocolates.

[SPR2]

Checked the sloes and blackberries round here today. The sloes are just ripening but blackberries are still small and green Cultivated ones are ready though.

[kiteless]

rhinochopig said:

kiteless said:

It does seem that there is going to be a super harvest of sloes this year (compared to last year anyway). My local spot of sloe bushes is laden with berries at the moment, and the blackberries are early as well. We've already got over 3lbs in the freezer ready for wine purposes!

And sloes are only good for Sloe Gin. Nothing else.

Not at all true - take the gin soaked sloes and turn them into sloe chocolates.

Gin-infused chocolate? Unconvinced.

Totally convinced by sloe wine, though. And <fingers crossed> the harvest this year will allow it!

[rhinochopig]

kiteless said:

rhinochopig said:

kiteless said:

It does seem that there is going to be a super harvest of sloes this year (compared to last year anyway). My local spot of sloe bushes is laden with berries at the moment, and the blackberries are early as well. We've already got over 3lbs in the freezer ready for wine purposes!

And sloes are only good for Sloe Gin. Nothing else.

Not at all true - take the gin soaked sloes and turn them into sloe chocolates.

Gin-infused chocolate? Unconvinced.

Totally convinced by sloe wine, though. And <fingers crossed> the harvest this year will allow it!

Friend has a chocolate making business. They sell thousands of them.

Basically very dark bitter chocolate, walnuts, and a few other bits and bobs. I don't like them as I can't stand dark chocolate, but they are very well received by those that do.

[Podie]

Pete Franklin said:

Is there anything else you can do with these?

Sloe vodka.

[FasterFreddy]

Any tips as to the best sort of places to go sloe hunting?

I realise hedgerows are where the blackthorn is usually found, but has anyone got any advice where to look and how to spot them from a distance?

[Mobile Chicane]

FasterFreddy said:

Any tips as to the best sort of places to go sloe hunting?

I realise hedgerows are where the blackthorn is usually found, but has anyone got any advice where to look and how to spot them from a distance?

Roadside hedges. I look out for big shows of blossom in spring - blackthorn has smaller whiter blossoms than hawthorn - then go back in the autumn.

[mrsshpub]

Mobile Chicane said:

FasterFreddy said:

Any tips as to the best sort of places to go sloe hunting?

I realise hedgerows are where the blackthorn is usually found, but has anyone got any advice where to look and how to spot them from a distance?

Roadside hedges. I look out for big shows of blossom in spring - blackthorn has smaller whiter blossoms than hawthorn - then go back in the autumn.

Roadside hedges are a possibility — but all that pollution.......? If there are blackthorns on the roadside, there could well be 'cleaner' specimens along nearby public footpaths.