Sloes

[firewatch]

We have had a BUMPER early crop the trees are dripping with them. I have picked about a kilo already and going to make gin or vodka from them depends which is cheaper!
Do I freeze them now or just leave them as they are?
Can the berries prior to being steeped cause an upset stomach? Mims i think ate some toda and shes looking off colour now, its them or she may have eaten some red black berries and im not sure if they are poisonous when red? Just not sure as shes looking quite rough poor lamb!

[firewatch]

Its ok Tilly, I did not type it correctly in the first place x

[Tilly2]

Oh, firewatch, I didn't mean you.

Tony knows what I mean.

[tonyav]

Oi Tilly pack it in, DT maybe watching. lol

[Tilly2]

Firewatch. I was trying to be amusing but it went wrong and sounded peevish instead. I do apologies.

P.S. Tony leave me alone I'm writing a Haiku, for you.

[chrissa1]

The sloes should be frozen once picked. Anytime between now and Xmas, defrost and then prick all over with a pin. Add sugar and then the cheapest gin or vodka you can buy.

Leave for as long as you can and every week give the bottles a good shake.

Lurvely, if I remember rightly. Lol

[tonyav]

I'll look forward to reading that, Tilly.
Yep, chrissa bloody lovely, a proper winter warmer.

[Prudie]

I make sloe gin every year. To me the gin flavour is critical, can't imagine it being that nice with vodka and wouldn't attempt it. I freeze them and then pour the gin and sugar over. I've never bothered with the pain of pricking and mine is always delicious. I must say it's very early to pick them, they're not ready round me. Traditionally you pick them after the first frost and it's ready to drink by Xmas.

[chrissa1]

I agree with you Prudie. Gin is by far the best.

By freezing them, if they're ready to pick now, gives them the frost that's traditionally required. We found "the pricking" all part of the enjoyable process that would give you such a delicious tipple at Xmas. Not a chore at all.

[bednobs]

i made sloe gin last xmas for presents cause i couldn't afford real presents (and i had 2litres of gin that'd been hanging round for years.
I could well do without the pricking again it was a bloody pain

[firewatch]

Tell me about it! falling in a blackberry bush to get to them hurt!

[jomifl]

If you have frozen them you certainly don't need to prick them as their cell structure will ave been broken down by the ice crystals inside the cells. Shaking isn't necessary as over a period of months diffusion will do the job for you.

[chrissa1]

It's good to give it a shake especially during the first few weeks, as it's great to see the redness getting deeper. Each to his own though.

[jomifl]

If you give it too many shakes it disappears ;-)