Sloe Gin

Now is the time of year to be making your sloe gin, damson vodka or whatever.  Here is the basic recipe.

Recipe for: SLOE GIN                  

Ingredients: 

• 1-2 lbs sloes, bullaces, damsons or plums (or sour cherries) - see below
• 6 oz sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 litre (or more) of gin (or vodka - see below)

Method:

 

1. wash the fruit, but no need to stone
2. prick every fruit with a fork & place into a clean demi-john or very large kilner jar
3. add the sugar & vanilla extract
4. cover with the gin
5. stopper the demi-john with a bung or air-lock
6. shake the demi-john vigorously until the sugar is dissolved
7. place demi-john in a cool dark place, label with contents & date
8. shake the contents every few days for the next 3 months
9. when the liqueur is ready, remove the fruit (depending on what it is, this can be eaten in small quantities as a VERY boozy sweet with cream/ ice-cream/ yoghurt)
10. filter the remaining contents through several layers of muslin & a funnel into another demi-john.  You may need to do this more than once, until you have a fairly clear liquid.  Try to let the liquid drain through itself, rather than squeezing, as this will help to keep the liqueur clear rather than cloudy
11. then decant again into sealable bottles. 
12. label the bottles
13. empty into gullet in small quantities

What else you need to know: 

1. traditionally, the fruit is picked in August/ September when it s fairly ripe, and the resultant liqueur can be bottled in time for Christmas (sloes are best after a frost, but this is not vital)
2. the liqueur will keep for years, and improves after a year or two
3. if a sediment forms in the bottom of the bottle(s), it can be re-filtered & re-bottled
4. fruits with a hard stone work the best.  I’ve used apples, peaches, plums, damsons, black-currants – they all work OK, but sloes are the very best.
5. for sloes use gin, but vodka works OK too.  For other fruits you can use either - the basic recipe is the same.  Just remember to label the bottles so you know what you've got
6. for a real treat - a glass of sloe gin + large slice of home-made Christmas cake + large wedge of English crumbly cheese (Wensleydale, Lancashire or Cheshire)