2 - 3 lb Sloe Berries
1.5 - 2 bottles of gin (cheap will do)
12 oz granulated sugar
Wash fruit and prick all over with a fork or similar.
Place in large clean jar
Pour over gin and add sugar.
Close tightly and keep in cool, dark place for 2 - 3 months
Gently shaking the jar from time to time (to mix sugar etc)
Strain with muslin or jelly bag and decant into clean bottles.
btw - you can use other types of fruit (damson is good) and you can also subsitute gin with vodka
That stuff really will makeyousmile, it will also bring a rose to your cheeks on the coldest of days!
The recipe I use is similar but I beg to differ slightly with the Quality of the gin, I think you get out what you put in...But thats just me. Cheers Tbird+
When we crack open the damson gin, I often find that whilst I don't feel exactly drunk (I can walk & think straight ok) I seem to lose the power of speech!
I agree with Thunderbird...don`t be tempted with cheap gin (unless of course you like to drink it anyway!) It`s a bit like never using a wine to cook with that you wouldn`t be prepared to drink on its own. No need to go the whole hog and buy Plymouth or Bombay Sapphire, Gordon`s will do fine.
After washing the Sloes, instead of pricking them with a fork, which is an arduous job, stick them in the freezer for a day. This does the same job.
I've been making Sloe gin for a good number of years now and tried all sorts of gin from the cheep French variety to the most expensive, and have come to the conclusion that there is virtually no difference.
Try drinking it as a long drink with Tonic, it is wonderful.