Time to reach for the Top Shelf!

[Barmitzvah Boy]

Three beers on my bookcase. I love the Thwaites ‘nip’ bottle, you do not see that size of bottle anymore.

 

[Barmitzvah Boy]

Have you ever spoken to someone from Hartlepool?

A good mate of mine is a Hartlepool fan. His nickname is ‘Bandit’! He only has one arm (honestly).

 

[Smells Like Kean Spirit]

Has anyone had a go at making sloe gin? I tied fishermen's ropes to a couple of blackthorn bushes in the early spring, but the area is currently impenetrable with bracken. Hopefully, with the single-figure nightly temps, we'll find the bushes soon. I heard the berries need frost to trigger the sweetness, but you can bung them in the freezer for a few hours after picking the berries. Not sure which would be the best containers / bottle to use as a regular gin bottle won't be big enough after adding the berries and sugar. Any recommendations folks?

 

[Barmitzvah Boy]

Has anyone had a go at making sloe gin? I tied fishermen's ropes to a couple of blackthorn bushes in the early spring, but the area is currently impenetrable with bracken. Hopefully, with the single-figure nightly temps, we'll find the bushes soon. I heard the berries need frost to trigger the sweetness, but you can bung them in the freezer for a few hours after picking the berries. Not sure which would be the best containers / bottle to use as a regular gin bottle won't be big enough after adding the berries and sugar. Any recommendations folks?

Every year. Use Kilner jars (The Range, Wilco etc) and shake the sugar / gin mixture every 3 months. Drink after 6 months at a bare minimum, I tend to leave it for 12 months.

Use the left over ’mush’ to make Sloe Port, and then use the sloe berry remains from the Port to make a very boozy pudding with whipped cream or ice cream or alternatively use as a centre in a sponge cake.

I pick my sloes in early November. If the frost has not got to them then use a needle or knife to prick them to let out the flavour and colour.

Sloe Port Recipe using left over berries from Sloe Gin

Once you've strained your sloe gin, it seems a waste to just throw those gin-soaked beauties in the bin. So don't. Make Sloe Port instead using this Sloe Port Recipe.

www.almostoffgrid.com

Enjoy.

 

[Smells Like Kean Spirit]

Cheers for that BB, but we might struggle to wait until Xmas, or by the Spring max. Can't wait
Might have to stock up with extra bene n brandy to distract from the sloe gin temptation!

 

[Drog]

best advice........
Drink the gin and leave the sloes for the birds winter food.

 

[Barmitzvah Boy]

best advice........
Drink the gin and leave the sloes for the birds winter food.

I always leave a good number of sloes and crab apples for the birds. I also put a few back into the hedgerow and bury a few with my heel.