Sloe Gin

Author
Discussion

Podie

46,630 posts

274 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
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Bottled the last of 2013..



...and have another 10 litres of 2014 vintage steeping nicely smile

TheExcession

11,669 posts

249 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
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^^^^ Excellent

Parents made a few litres this year, first time in years that there were hardly any sloes out.

They own about 5 acres and only two trees (out of around 15) had berries - never seen it like this before. We don't know if it is the mild autumn or the general lack of bees around the place? In the past you could fill bags and bags with sloe without any problem. This year I had to get a step ladder out to even get enough for a few litres.


BoRED S2upid

19,641 posts

239 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
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TheExcession said:
^^^^ Excellent

Parents made a few litres this year, first time in years that there were hardly any sloes out.

They own about 5 acres and only two trees (out of around 15) had berries - never seen it like this before. We don't know if it is the mild autumn or the general lack of bees around the place? In the past you could fill bags and bags with sloe without any problem. This year I had to get a step ladder out to even get enough for a few litres.
Very early season for us we were picking them 6 weeks ago and there were loads a good month earlier than last year. Gives it more time to steep ready for Christmas.

jamiebae

6,245 posts

210 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
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I've collected about 400g of sloes so far, but still have good stock of the '11, '12 and '13 vintage so might not go too crazy this year. I was however, delighted to find sloe bushes on our normal Sunday walk, in spite of the fact we have moved to a new country over 1,000 miles south of our old home and live at 1,200ft altitude so they must be hardy little buggers to survive a temperature range of -20 to +35 Celsius year after year.

FurtiveFreddy

8,577 posts

236 months

Monday 3rd November 2014
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Loads of big fat juicy sloes at my 'new' location yesterday. Quite pleased as my 'old' location didn't have any when we checked last week.

Will be making 'sloe Bourbon' this year as an experiment. Still got sloe gin, brandy and port left from last 2 years but we're getting through it fairly rapidly...

Johnnytheboy

24,498 posts

185 months

Saturday 15th October 2016
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Sure there is a more recent sloe gin thread but I'm buggered if the PH search will find it.

Who is making sloe gin this year? I've got a lovely bag in the freezer I'm about to make into the purple stuff...

FurtiveFreddy

8,577 posts

236 months

Saturday 15th October 2016
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I think this is the main thread on the subject and yes I expect we will be heading out for a bit of harvesting and steeping some time soon...

B'stard Child

28,321 posts

245 months

Saturday 15th October 2016
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The local farmer trimmed his hedges - be a few years before I get more sloes

majordad

3,600 posts

196 months

Saturday 15th October 2016
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Here in Cork, Ireland we have barely had a frost yet. My Courgettes have just felt the effect of frost these past few nights but 2 out of 4 are still alive and just about producing. WHen th elast Courgette dies I'll be out harvesting my sloes. One problem in recent years is that the council are cutting severly the hedge rows from the road side and this is forcing us to pick them from the other side of the bush. Luckily the farmers don't mind me hopping over their gates.

gazapc

1,319 posts

159 months

Saturday 15th October 2016
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Picked my first on Tuesday, will wait a week or two more before heading out to get a kilo or two for the big batch.

Sorting out the cupboard a few weeks ago I discovered 3 x 700 ml bottles still full from last year's batch. Yum!

HotJambalaya

2,023 posts

179 months

Sunday 16th October 2016
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other then scaling things up, does it make a difference if you're making a huge demijohn? anyone used the ones with a little tap on the bottom to decant, or does it get blocked?

Never done this before and this is the year... Just have to order some online...

monoloco

289 posts

191 months

Monday 31st October 2016
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finally made mine at the weekend. Same problem as a few other posters have mentioned -sloes are late this year but farmers have flailed the hedges back already so had to hunt in the depths of the hedges to find any. I usually do a few variations -obvious choices of gin vs vodka and a variety of other fruits, plus I keep bees so I use the '2nd grade' honey instead of sugar. For the first time this year I've also made quince gin (just use the scraps/peelings/cores etc) with half a vanilla pod, cinnamon stick and a few cloves. Its only been in the jar a few days but it smells fabulous.....


C70R

17,596 posts

103 months

Monday 31st October 2016
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Johnnytheboy said:
Sure there is a more recent sloe gin thread but I'm buggered if the PH search will find it.

Who is making sloe gin this year? I've got a lovely bag in the freezer I'm about to make into the purple stuff...
Received 3 carrier bags full from my folks (country bumpkins) to share out between my friends. We're all having a bash at making our own, and will be getting together in the new year to sample our products.
Timely too, as I've just finished the last of 2015's batch.

HotJambalaya

2,023 posts

179 months

Thursday 3rd November 2016
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bottles ordered, sloes ordered. Time for gin and sugar...


Bloody hell damsons are expensive on ebay! Fancied some of that brandy!

don4l

10,058 posts

175 months

Friday 4th November 2016
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I've just sampled some that I made two years ago. I forgot that I hadn't added any sugar at the time of making it. As it turns out, it doesn't need any sugar.

I suspect that the sloes were sweeter than usual, but it does go to show that it is better to add any sugar after sampling the finished product.

markoc

1,084 posts

195 months

Friday 4th November 2016
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Last night I tried my "Sloe port" from last year, which I picked up the idea for on here.

Having drained the gin from the remaining sloes and passed through double layered muslin, I put the gloopy ginny mixture in the bottom of a kilner jar with a bottle of red wine - can't remember what, but something new world and fruity - shut the lid and promptly forgot about it.

Tried it about 6 months ago having found it while rummaging the cupboard and decided that it needed sweetening, so I put in a scientifically judged amount of sugar (a good handful) and relegated it to the back of the cupboard again where it has sat until now.

Verdict. I'm no expert in all things wine related, but it wasn't that bad (given that I was anticipating the creation of fruity red paint stripper), and will make a guest appearance at Christmas. By the time it gets served everyone will be half cut anyway - so even if it doesn't appeal to the discerning tastebuds of my family, I figure they'll not give a monkeys...

majordad

3,600 posts

196 months

Friday 4th November 2016
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Instant Sweet Wine, not too far from Mas Amiel.

http://masamiel.fr/en/

HotJambalaya

2,023 posts

179 months

Thursday 10th November 2016
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Just wondering if anyone has left the sloes covered in sugar for a while before topping off with gin, I remember doing something similar with other berries and it draws out a lot of the juice, might make things faster?

Only occurred to me as I finished bottling!

All my bottling done, 6 litres of gin and a litre of vodka. Measurements all over the place, so no idea what I'm going to end up with!

Johnnytheboy

24,498 posts

185 months

Friday 11th November 2016
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Ultimately?

A hangover.


FurtiveFreddy

8,577 posts

236 months

Sunday 20th November 2016
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Looks like we left it too late frown

Our 'secret' location has been cut back along with most of the hedges bordering the fields in the surrounding area and whatever was left seems to have been plundered already, so no sloes for us this year unless we find another spot somewhere in the next couple of weeks.

We do have some left in the freezer which should make about 3 litres and still have some from previous years to bottle up, so there is some hope I suppose.