Sloe Gin 2010

[unclepumble]

Went for a walk yesterday (about 500yards ) to peruse my local sloe bushes, 15 mins later had just over 3lbs in a carrier bag, there seem to be loads this year, big fat and juicy too. so got this on this afternoon whilst the strife and kids were out.

Unclepumbles Sloe Gin
1 Brown Demijohn
12oz Sugar
3lb ish fresh picked sloes (washed & Pricked)
1/2 jar dried juniper berries.
3ltrs of supermarket gin.

pricked the sloes stuck em in a sterilised brown demijohn along with the sugar, juniper berries and cheap gin, Bunged the top and gave it a good old slosh around.

will be sloshing it around daily for the next month, then once a week till the week before xmas, when I will bottle it.

Just had a glass of last years to take away the tedium of pricking the fruit, and if this years is as good as lasts then it will be worth it.

UP

 

[Cussword]

I like the juniper berry idea. I usually get my sloes from the Trough of Bowland. Did a recce last week, three Blackthorns that I've used before are dying. I've still got last years, but alas, none for this year

 

[unclepumble]

only time I have been in the trough is in the wee small hours when i used to road rally.

Some fantastic roads there, mate of mine described it like Colin mcrae rally when he totally stuffed his car on a burn after a blind crest, only difference was it ended with insert £10K for another go (to replace the car)

Bleasdale is very nice too some very hairy hairy roads!

I think there are plenty sloe bushes near marton mere, my friend go's picking there?

UP

 

[LeicesterLad]

Ive just spent the last hour pricking 3lb of sloes and I feel your pain 'no literally I lost count how many times i missed with the needle straight into my finger !' ha ha

Good picking this year nice healthy fat ones

Good shout with the Juniper Berries ...has anyone used cloves, cinnamon, cloves or almond essence ?

 

[unclepumble]

I was toying with adding a bourbon vanilla pod, but stuck with just the juniper berries.


Cinammon may work don't think cloves would, almond essence would give it the ammeretto hint :sick:

UP

 

[Cussword]

only time I have been in the trough is in the wee small hours when i used to road rally.

Some fantastic roads there, mate of mine described it like Colin mcrae rally when he totally stuffed his car on a burn after a blind crest, only difference was it ended with insert £10K for another go (to replace the car)

Bleasdale is very nice too some very hairy hairy roads!

I think there are plenty sloe bushes near marton mere, my friend go's picking there?

UP

Bleasdale is brilliant. I'll try Marton Mere, thanks Shane :thumb:

 

[unclepumble]

only time I have been in the trough is in the wee small hours when i used to road rally.

Some fantastic roads there, mate of mine described it like Colin mcrae rally when he totally stuffed his car on a burn after a blind crest, only difference was it ended with insert £10K for another go (to replace the car)

Bleasdale is very nice too some very hairy hairy roads!

I think there are plenty sloe bushes near marton mere, my friend go's picking there?

UP

Bleasdale is brilliant. I'll try Marton Mere, thanks Shane :thumb:

one night there my mate took a shortcut, the rest of us came over a blind crest took a 90 right 50 yard straight then a hairpin left and 100yards to stop at a control, my mate just hit the crest flat out found his air brakes were spongy then bounced on some moorland and stopped in the control in hysterics of laughter.

UP

 

[Baz Chaz]

Ive just spent the last hour pricking 3lb of sloes and I feel your pain 'no literally I lost count how many times i missed with the needle straight into my finger !' ha ha

put sloes on a flat surface, use a cheese grater with the small prickly side and roll it over the sloes with a bit of pressure :!: simples

 

[Hawks]

Ive just spent the last hour pricking 3lb of sloes and I feel your pain 'no literally I lost count how many times i missed with the needle straight into my finger !' ha ha

Good picking this year nice healthy fat ones

Good shout with the Juniper Berries ...has anyone used cloves, cinnamon, cloves or almond essence ?

I use almond essence - but about 5 or 6 drops to 3 litres of gin - makes a difference, but keep it subtle..
Also, I don't bother pricking my sloes, I just chuck them in the freezer for 2 days which seems to work :thumb:

 

[Cussword]

[quote="unclepumble"one night there my mate took a shortcut, the rest of us came over a blind crest took a 90 right 50 yard straight then a hairpin left and 100yards to stop at a control, my mate just hit the crest flat out found his air brakes were spongy then bounced on some moorland and stopped in the control in hysterics of laughter.UP[/quote]

Had loads of fun in the seventies in an MK2 RS 200, more recently in Saxo VTS. It's almost as good as Rhynose Pass in some parts. Now I use it to get to Kirkby Lonsdale & Skipton in a 4X4, (boring) :lol:

 

[LeicesterLad]

Ive just spent the last hour pricking 3lb of sloes and I feel your pain 'no literally I lost count how many times i missed with the needle straight into my finger !' ha ha

put sloes on a flat surface, use a cheese grater with the small prickly side and roll it over the sloes with a bit of pressure :!: simples

Umm looks like I should have looked this up on the forum before spending over an hour at the sink last night oh well....

So shall we go for Juniper berries and a stick of cinnamon ? would almond go with this ?

 

[broadfordbrewer]

Nearly forgot to go hunting for sloe berries again! doh... nice timely reminder as we approach October! Cheers Unclepumble
Just need to find some now :pray: