Sloes!

[ChristianZS]

Anyone else off to get some soon?

Im just off on a walk to survey the potential harvesting area

[MKH9130]

[ronaldmacdonald]

..are you on about mushrooms or something?

[b2dan]

Sloes are some kind of fruit that are fermented to make Sloe Gin...

[Big Al.]

IIRC a sloe is the fruit of the Blackthorn tree, it's an old member of the plum family, the sloe can be used to flavour gin or vodka. I think from memory that it is better harvested after it's had a good frost.

[love machine]

Bit early at the moment. Take a bit of rope with you to pull the top branches down. Watch out for maggots and botrytis.

[xllifts]

Mmmmmmmmmmm Sloe gin and cider Mmmmmmm

[Mr MoJo]

Is it that time already ?? Surely a little early.

Still finishing off last years Sloe Gin at the moment.
Best to wait until the first frost though before picking and pricking !! (or leave them in the freezer for an hour or two)

Nothing like a good days hunting with a flask of Sloe Gin to keep you warm

Edited by Mr MoJo on Sunday 30th September 12:57

[$lowpoke]

Anybody got a receipe for sloe gin? I fancy a crack at it for xmas.

[Big Al.]

Try here

http://www.sloe.biz/

[Monkey boy 1]

You don't have to use Gin, Any of the Clear spirits will do, there again you can use Blackberries or any fruit
I've made in the past, Sloe Gin, Sloe Rum, Sloe Brandy(which blew my socks off), Sloe Vodka, Blackberry gin, Blackberry rum etc.

If any of you have done home made wine, then there is a powder you can add, just before you decant into bottles, which, when put through a muslin filter, draws out all the lumps & sediment so you get a clear & very drinkable drink.

I used to use 1 lirle of spirits, 1 lb of fruit & 8oz of sugar, slice the sloes as they have a large stone in the middle, and more or less do as the previous link says.

I dare anyone to actually eat one of the berries !!!

[AndyAudi]

Haven't managed to get any sloe's yet but have started with Damson's and a first for me...
Crab apple Gin! (I like sour stuff so hoping this will be a winner)

[ChristianZS]

Also on my travels I found a hoard of blackberry bushes which not many people seem to go past! Quite looking forward to making some other fruity delights

[siztenboots]

If you know a location that has not been picked I would not wait since my spot had been raided and there were just a few left, all the easy pickings had gone.

[Big Al.]

ChristianZS said:

Also on my travels I found a hoard of blackberry bushes which not many people seem to go past! Quite looking forward to making some other fruity delights

Just make sure you only pick the ones ABOVE waste high.

[ChristianZS]

Big Al. said:

ChristianZS said:

Also on my travels I found a hoard of blackberry bushes which not many people seem to go past! Quite looking forward to making some other fruity delights

Just make sure you only pick the ones ABOVE waste high.

They are about 10/15ft up.. I just need to figure out a way of getting to them

[Big Al.]

String with a weight attached?

[Bunglist]

ChristianZS said:

Big Al. said:

ChristianZS said:

Also on my travels I found a hoard of blackberry bushes which not many people seem to go past! Quite looking forward to making some other fruity delights

Just make sure you only pick the ones ABOVE waste high.

They are about 10/15ft up.. I just need to figure out a way of getting to them

How about using a cherry picker!!!!!

[Gretchen]

There's a huge tree in my garden, with loads of Sloe on. My neighbour came down the other week to ask if i'd be making Sloe Gin and said she'd also like too.

We can wait until the frosts, as no one else will pick them.

Also have loads of Blackberries, so definitely going to give this all a try.

[slow_poke]

Rightio, that's me a week into this job. Looking good so far, the Gin's turned a fantastic purpley colour. Thanks for that sloe.biz link.

Anyone else at it?