Make perfect sloe gin this year with our ultimate recipe.
Of course you should really make your sloe gin 12 months in advance - so anything you make now should be ideal for this time next year. If this is your first time, we'll forgive you for cracking and jumping in sooner than that... but do try and keep some for next year - it only improves.
And if you can't find any - or enough - sloe berries? You can use the same recipe with damsons, or other similar fruits.
Top tip: When you're picking from the blackthorn bushes do beware of the prickles…they still catch the most experienced pickers out.
Ingredients
12oz of fruit (350g) 3 oz of caster sugar (75g) 1 bottle of gin (75cl) A small dash of almond essence A couple of jam jars with good, tight-fitting lids (sterilized and cooled preferably) A jelly bag Decorative bottles for eventual storage
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- Wash the sloes in warm water, and remove (or drown!) any hitchhikers in insect form that may have made their way to the sink.
- Using a sturdy needle (such as a darning needle) prick each fruit a few times, and divide the spoils between the two jam jars.
- Put half the sugar and half the gin (or as much as will fit) into each jar.
- Add a couple of drops of the almond essence to each one.
- Close the lids tightly and store in a cool, dry, dark place.
- Give the jars a good shake each day, until all of the sugar has dissolved.
- Leave to mature for at least three months – but don’t let the fruit spoil, so no more than six.
- Taste for sweetness, and add sugar if necessary/preferred.
- Continue the ‘daily shakes’ until all of the newly added sugar has dissolved.
- Carefully strain all the liquid through a jelly bag and decant into decorative bottles. (Don’t forget to label!).
Now the gin is ready to drink – but is best left to mature for a bit longer (a couple of months) – it will now keep indefinitely.
Don’t throw the sloes away after you've drained them – they are now deliciously sweet and can be covered in chocolate and eaten with ice-cream, or as a post-supper treat.
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Credit: Isle of Harris Gin
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