Sloe going!

[Mousetrapper]

Having being introduce to the delights of sloe gin this year I now really want to have a go at making some (and drinking more of it obviously).

Got the gin, got the sugar, got the bottles - now if I only knew where the sloe berries were!! Not quite picking time, need to wait until the first frosts but I'd like to find them in advance.

Anybody seen any on their travels through the wilds of Yorkshire, not easy at speed but you never know.

If anyone has any tasty recipes that would also be a bonus.

For added incentive, if I find any I'll be bringing a bottle to AE08!

Go on now, let me into your secret berry location you know you want to :smt064

This is what they look like

http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/4049/blackthornsloeskw3.th.jpg (http://img514.imageshack.us/my.php?image=blackthornsloeskw3.jpg)

[Luckypants]

Ha! Ha! (Nelson stylee) got thousands here in the hedgerows and in my 'wild area' of the field. not keen on sloe gin meself (too sweet) but anyone wants sloes, I got em by the bucket load....

[Bluepete]

Have a look on old maps of your area, try Ordnance Survey website. Sloe bushes can often be found in old hedges, especially old parish boundaries.
I do know where there are loads of bushes, but they are all in the village I grew up in in Herefordshire! Sorry.
PS, I used to make it and have a new bottle from Plymouth Gin from my holidays.

[Messie]

Hey something I know something about at last.

This year all the tree fruits are ripening early so the sloes will be ready in September. Don't worry about them being through the first frost - this may not be until Nov and they will have rotted or the birds will have got them by then. Instead you could always stick them in the freezer; the only reason this is done tho is the break into their hard skins. You could ***** each one three times with a silver needle, as recommended by the Victorians, or you could just squash them around a bit.

My usual recipe is 1Lb sugar to a pint of gin, or 500g sugar to 1 Lt gin in new money. Combine the two in a SEALED jar. This needs to be shaken every day until the sugar dissolves (about 2 weeks) This makes a very strong and sweet liqueur type of sloe gin, which many people like (it's great on ice cream). However I prefer the second brew, which is when you drain of the first brewing then put more gin onto the sloes for a second soaking. This also works well to liven up a cheap brandy.

Be warned tho - you wont be bringing your gin the ARO8 - it takes AT LEAST a year for the first batch to be properly ready. It's usually drunk the Christmas 15 months after picking the sloes.

Cheers, from the hedgerow brewing expert!

[tinpants]

Which village was that then?

I was born and grew up in Herefordshire and went to school in Hereford.

[Ed]

Absolutely loads in the lanes around Acton Burnell, 7 miles south of Shrewsbury. And more blackberries than you could ever pick, too.

[Bluepete]

Luston, just north of Leominster on the B4361. Which schoold did you go to and when?

[Tim in Belgium]

There's a fair few sloe berries in the villages and fields between Ripon and Masham, will have dad out there harvesting.

Sloe Vodka is also good if you get a lot of berries.

[Dan]

1Lb sugar to a pint of gin, or 500g sugar to 1 Lt gin in new money

That's 454g (1Lb) sugar to 568ml (1 pint)
or
500g to 1000ml

Which would obviously be different concentrations?

[Mousetrapper]

I knew the org wouldn't be letting me down in the area of refreshing beverages.

Luckypants - If my explorations over the next week (I'll be trying Ripon to Malham, thanks Tim, I promise not to take all of them!) then can I put first bagsie on some of yours, postage etc taken care of obviously.

As far as the first frosts go the stuff I've read suggest that this is just a guide to allow for ripening, so global warming etc. means they may well be ready early. The freezing bit is just for those who don't want to have to be *****ing (that would be pushing a small pointy thing into them) thousands of little berries.

Will a set of panniers be big enough I wonder?

[tinpants]

Luston, just north of Leominster on the B4361. Which schoold did you go to and when?

My Nan lived in Luston up until she died in 1984. She lived in a house called "Springfield" - not that I'm expecting you to know it!!

I went to Belmont Abbey School from 1983 - 1986. I lived in Symonds Yat for a few years then moved to Llangarron.

[Jabba]

I asked the barmaid for a Sloe Gin but she just went to the optic and dispensed a shot of ordinary Gordon's........

"Erm, excuse me, miss..... I asked for a Sloe Gin"

"Sorry Sir, but I can't get it to come out any slower"


From the Cuffy Book of Rib Ticklers.

[Bluepete]

I went to St Marys at Lugwardine, '83 to '88! Probably saw each other knocking around Hereford. Small world isn't it.
I didn't know your Nans house until I checked with Mum and Dad. They still live there and now, I do remember the house, (I think!)

[Tim in Belgium]

I knew the org wouldn't be letting me down in the area of refreshing beverages.

Luckypants - If my explorations over the next week (I'll be trying Ripon to Malham, thanks Tim, I promise not to take all of them!) then can I put first bagsie on some of yours, postage etc taken care of obviously....



I meant between Ripon and Masham, butyou might find them heading out of Ripon towards Pately and Malahm too...