Discussion
I've found one tree locally that had plenty on but they were all very small, probably half the size you would expect. The other trees I have got to have all only had no more than a dozen berries on them each, unlikely they have been picked over by others as even in the hard to reach parts of the tree had only isolated odd ones on too.
Off to find more on the weekend but have bought some on eBay (£7 for 2lb) to make sure we have at least some.
Off to find more on the weekend but have bought some on eBay (£7 for 2lb) to make sure we have at least some.
B'stard Child said:
^ this don't need expensive gin to make sloe gin
You don't but I do tend to favour stuff that is 40% ABV or more rather than the 37.5% supermarket specials. Seems to make for a richer and smoother end product. Don't know if the extra alcohol has a better effect at extracting the flavour from the sloes?majordad said:
I’ve always used the cheaper 37.5% Gin, buy it very cheap when I’m in France or Spain. You will be diluting it anyway so just add less sparkling wine or tonic or whatever. That said, i leave my sloes in the gin from the time I pick them , October. until the next October.
I usually only dilute my sloe gin with more alcohol. 
Slightly OT but in the spirit...
I recently did a couple of hours on a gin making course where you distill the alcohol with whatever ingredients you choose. Was good fun and while a bit naughty (like doing 55 in a 50) I am going to get a nice little copper still and have a go at home.
Anyone else?
I recently did a couple of hours on a gin making course where you distill the alcohol with whatever ingredients you choose. Was good fun and while a bit naughty (like doing 55 in a 50) I am going to get a nice little copper still and have a go at home.
Anyone else?
21TonyK said:
Slightly OT but in the spirit...
I recently did a couple of hours on a gin making course where you distill the alcohol with whatever ingredients you choose. Was good fun and while a bit naughty (like doing 55 in a 50) I am going to get a nice little copper still and have a go at home.
Anyone else?
Was it the one at the Ginstitute?I recently did a couple of hours on a gin making course where you distill the alcohol with whatever ingredients you choose. Was good fun and while a bit naughty (like doing 55 in a 50) I am going to get a nice little copper still and have a go at home.
Anyone else?
DJFish said:
21TonyK said:
Slightly OT but in the spirit...
I recently did a couple of hours on a gin making course where you distill the alcohol with whatever ingredients you choose. Was good fun and while a bit naughty (like doing 55 in a 50) I am going to get a nice little copper still and have a go at home.
Anyone else?
Was it the one at the Ginstitute?I recently did a couple of hours on a gin making course where you distill the alcohol with whatever ingredients you choose. Was good fun and while a bit naughty (like doing 55 in a 50) I am going to get a nice little copper still and have a go at home.
Anyone else?
So I'm set up. It's been a bumper year for berries here and I've got three large Kilner jars full of Sloes and gin on the go.
My question, how long do you leave the fruit in the spirit ? Years ago I'd leave things ticking over for nearly three months and pull the fruit out just before Christmas. I don't think this gave good results, there was quite a bit of filtering to do and I was never convinced about the taste.
More recently I've tasted sloe gin that was paler, almost amber, which tasted light and fruity and I'm thinking this is due to a short sloe immersion. Maybe just three to four weeks.
I'd like to hear what you think the optimum steeping period should be.
My question, how long do you leave the fruit in the spirit ? Years ago I'd leave things ticking over for nearly three months and pull the fruit out just before Christmas. I don't think this gave good results, there was quite a bit of filtering to do and I was never convinced about the taste.
More recently I've tasted sloe gin that was paler, almost amber, which tasted light and fruity and I'm thinking this is due to a short sloe immersion. Maybe just three to four weeks.
I'd like to hear what you think the optimum steeping period should be.
21TonyK said:
Slightly OT but in the spirit...
I recently did a couple of hours on a gin making course where you distill the alcohol with whatever ingredients you choose. Was good fun and while a bit naughty (like doing 55 in a 50) I am going to get a nice little copper still and have a go at home.
Anyone else?
Make sure you pay the government £28.74 per litre of 100%ABV or, by the maths, £11.50 per litre of 40% gin you make.... I recently did a couple of hours on a gin making course where you distill the alcohol with whatever ingredients you choose. Was good fun and while a bit naughty (like doing 55 in a 50) I am going to get a nice little copper still and have a go at home.
Anyone else?
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