After the good summer we had I thought the sloes would have been hanging of the bushes. Either someone got there before me or they just did not produce. I still got enough for a litre or two though.
Sloe Gin
- Thread starter SCOMAN
- Start date
Best year in a decade here? Absolutely millions of them. I wonder if that's because the beehives are so close to the blackthorn trees so ours pollinated well? I'll be interested to hear how other peoples have done!
One area was promising in the spring but I think someone got in there before me, but theres definitely been less. Do any animals eat them? I know they're very astringent but don't know if anything actually eats them.
Chiseller and I found some absolute beauties yesterday afternoon. Mine are macerating away in the cupboard as I type.
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We did a couple of walks to gather some sloes and it seems to be a function of hedgerow management here.
Down the lane where we were gathering the berries closest to the road (and therefore repeated hedge cutting by the farmers) were pretty small; the ones right at the back of the hedge were massive.
Down the lane where we were gathering the berries closest to the road (and therefore repeated hedge cutting by the farmers) were pretty small; the ones right at the back of the hedge were massive.
I understand that its going to be a poor year for sloes.. Down to the extended spring. Also because lots of people know about sloes what are available disappear very quickly!! I was always taught not to pick them until the first frost!! If i wait for that now I never get any!!
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A few here in NI but not as good as previous years, mind you we had a lot of snow early on and I think all plums have suffered as a result, good year for everything else though.
Either I am too late or its just as bad around here. Strange too as there are a few spots I go that are off the beaten track so should have been good.
Perrari
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
I've not been able to find any either. There is a 80' long hedge not far from the house that was bursting with them last year, but not a single berry this year.
Has anyone tried any other fruit in gin?
I have blackcurrants and rhubarb in the garden, could be interesting.
Stu
I have blackcurrants and rhubarb in the garden, could be interesting.
Stu
That's a question I'd be interested to know too.
We are swamped with elderberries here.
Elderberry tincture is medicinally useful but not a pleasant drink. Elderberry port is wonderful though.
Rhubarb is also good in wine - and I discovered this year also in beer, but not ideal in spirits.
Plums, apples, pears, strawberries, blackcurrants, gooseberries and especially blackberries all work well. Vary the amount and type of sweetener according to the fruit. Some like a darker raw type sugar e.g. blackberry like Demerara, bullace likes muscavado others work better with a refined sugar (I find strawberry and raspberry are overwhelmed by the treacle taste of raw sugars). Some flavours like honey. Spices are great too. Some recipes need some work (see the blackberry brandy tutorial), some are simple tinctures.
Short answer - its all good!
Rhubarb is also good in wine - and I discovered this year also in beer, but not ideal in spirits.
Plums, apples, pears, strawberries, blackcurrants, gooseberries and especially blackberries all work well. Vary the amount and type of sweetener according to the fruit. Some like a darker raw type sugar e.g. blackberry like Demerara, bullace likes muscavado others work better with a refined sugar (I find strawberry and raspberry are overwhelmed by the treacle taste of raw sugars). Some flavours like honey. Spices are great too. Some recipes need some work (see the blackberry brandy tutorial), some are simple tinctures.
Short answer - its all good!
Perrari
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
I made some with brambles that was really nice, and also with shop bought Blueberries that was also really good and had a really vivid colour to it.
I usually use Vodka not Gin as personally I don't like the juniper aftertaste in Gin.
I usually use Vodka not Gin as personally I don't like the juniper aftertaste in Gin.
@ swright; I think what you've got in your post above looks like either Bullace or Wild Damson to me, I don't think they're Sloes.
But absolutely no harm done, the others will give great results too!......................................atb mac
But absolutely no harm done, the others will give great results too!......................................atb mac
Yep the branches are almost touching the ground under the weight of fruit here. We've lost a lot of branches off the plum trees too.
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