wine corks

[ken c]

I want to use corks with a top to them for my Sloe gin

do I have to soak the corks first,

[WendyS]

It's best to sterlise the corks first if they've previously been used in another bottle, i.e. a sherry bottle. It's best to use campden tablets which can usually be bought from a chemist and are a standard item used in home made winemaking. Crush a tablet in between to teaspoons and dissolve in water. Soak the cork in it for a couple of minutes. If you can't obtain campden, you can try soaking the cork in boiling water for a couple of minutes but I don't know whether this will destroy any stray yeast elements which may be on the cork from its previous environment and set up a secondary fermentation in your sloe gin. Happy Drinking!