Sloe Watch

[sparrow100]

Sloes are pretty much ready round my way - a good few weeks early, as a lot of things are this year.

Thought it might be worth a heads-up for anyone looking to make gin/jelly/port etc.

[Nicos]

Thanks yes...we'd noticed they are very early.

Maybe you can advise......?....I thought they had a better flavour once the frost gets to them( like parsnips do).... Would it be a good idea to freeze them for a few days before using them?

[sparrow100]

Yep, I freeze them as frosts are a long way away here.

[PyreneesPlot]

What else can you do with them? It is a bumper crop this year but we have several years of sloe gin already. ( drink more gin?)

[sparrow100]

Sloe jelly is very nice - particularly if you mix in some late brambles. You can use the sloes from the gin to make sloe port. I made some back in June which should be ready for tasting next month. You can also make sloe vodka.

I can't imagine how you have spare sloe gin. Mine vanishes pretty much as soon as I strain it.

[Scarlet]

I'm also one with a few bottles of sloe gin left over. Much prefer blackberries or raspberries in my vodka, or lemoncello...

[sparrow100]

I make mine with lots more sloes than recipes generally call for and little or no sugar. It creates a lovely dark gin with plenty of sloe flavour. If anyone wants it sweeter, usually for sipping neat, I add a bit of sugar syrup. Standing up afterwards can be a bit of a challenge.

[Jeanied]

Lol Sparrow 100 - good job you don't live any closer to me! Have you tried freezing sloe vodka?

[sparrow100]

Lol Sparrow 100 - good job you don't live any closer to me! Have you tried freezing sloe vodka?

Not yet....rhubarb vodka is next on my list. Yum yum yum!

[simon12]

Isn't sloe vodka actually sloe gin? i.e gin is a neutral/unflavoured alcohol (like vodka) flavoured with juniper berries and sloe gin is a neutral/unflavoured alcohol flavoured with sloe berries.

[Jeanied]

Gin is usually flavoured with aromatics and juniper berries. Vodka is the neutral alcohol of choice for berry flavouring. And it goes thick and gloopy when frozen!

[Alison]

Isn't sloe vodka actually sloe gin? i.e gin is a neutral/unflavoured alcohol (like vodka) flavoured with juniper berries and sloe gin is a neutral/unflavoured alcohol flavoured with sloe berries.

Sloe gin is made with gin and slide vodka is made with vodka. Can't stand gin normally but it's nice with the additional flavour or sloes or damsons.