Lancs Lad Posted August 28, 2006 Report Share Posted August 28, 2006 Right.......... Ive been given the picture of what a sloe looks like....Where do you find them... Im looking round black berry bushes but dont seem to be able to spot em... Where else should I be looking for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul223 Posted August 28, 2006 Report Share Posted August 28, 2006 In my area the sloes are in hedges, high up 8 may be 10 feet, can't miss them at the moment so many about! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurcherboy Posted August 28, 2006 Report Share Posted August 28, 2006 Many around hedgerows here mate. LB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirky640 Posted August 28, 2006 Report Share Posted August 28, 2006 theres loads on dissused railway lines around my neck off the woods Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andystone Posted August 29, 2006 Report Share Posted August 29, 2006 just walk the hedges until you find sloe bushes. if you cant see them, then i wouldn't of thought they were there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wookie Posted August 29, 2006 Report Share Posted August 29, 2006 My mum's got a hedge full of them... I just go round there to grab a load Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave66 Posted August 29, 2006 Report Share Posted August 29, 2006 LL I was walking back from Decoying on Friday and spotted a load on the bushes, my mum uses these for Sloe Gin, they are not quite ready yet, If I can get some I will let you know. Regards Dave66 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancs Lad Posted August 29, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2006 LL I was walking back from Decoying on Friday and spotted a load on the bushes, my mum uses these for Sloe Gin, they are not quite ready yet, If I can get some I will let you know. Regards Dave66 Ill take a walk around my permissions and see if I can find any.....Mostly hawthorn hedges though with the small red berry types, not any of the black looking goodies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrewluke Posted August 29, 2006 Report Share Posted August 29, 2006 LL I was walking back from Decoying on Friday and spotted a load on the bushes, my mum uses these for Sloe Gin, they are not quite ready yet, If I can get some I will let you know. Regards Dave66 Ill take a walk around my permissions and see if I can find any.....Mostly hawthorn hedges though with the small red berry types, not any of the black looking goodies. i was told that you should wait until after the first frost to pick sloes,if there's no frost you should wait until they are blueish/black(no green),***** them with a fork and put them in the freezer before use. andrew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fert Posted August 29, 2006 Report Share Posted August 29, 2006 LL I was walking back from Decoying on Friday and spotted a load on the bushes, my mum uses these for Sloe Gin, they are not quite ready yet, If I can get some I will let you know. Regards Dave66 Ill take a walk around my permissions and see if I can find any.....Mostly hawthorn hedges though with the small red berry types, not any of the black looking goodies. i was told that you should wait until after the first frost to pick sloes,if there's no frost you should wait until they are blueish/black(no green),***** them with a fork and put them in the freezer before use. andrew you got to get to them befoere the birds do. its no good waiting for a frost with all this global warming. and pricking them is a very tedious job believe me. this is the reason of putting the sloes in the freezer as this splits them allowing for the flavour to come out when sitting in the gin.and when you drain the sloes from the gin it is advisable to use an old pair of tides this is better than a sieve as it doesnt let any of the glunky bits through thus giving you a good clear tipple.oh and there is a bumper crop around my way this year aswell as blackberrys damsons and crab apples Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old rooster Posted August 29, 2006 Report Share Posted August 29, 2006 LL I was walking back from Decoying on Friday and spotted a load on the bushes, my mum uses these for Sloe Gin, they are not quite ready yet, If I can get some I will let you know. Regards Dave66 Ill take a walk around my permissions and see if I can find any.....Mostly hawthorn hedges though with the small red berry types, not any of the black looking goodies. i was told that you should wait until after the first frost to pick sloes,if there's no frost you should wait until they are blueish/black(no green),***** them with a fork and put them in the freezer before use. andrew I usually pick them early October round here, make a nick in the skins with a sharp kitchen knife. Reminds me that I've got about 5 litres from last year to filter off and re bottle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancs Lad Posted August 30, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 30, 2006 They are from blackthorn bushes / trees..... Ive got my pictures....time to go a hunting........ We're going on a sloe hunt, sloe hunt, sloe hunt. We're going to get drunk, drunk, drunk..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fert Posted August 30, 2006 Report Share Posted August 30, 2006 They are from blackthorn bushes / trees..... Ive got my pictures....time to go a hunting........ We're going on a sloe hunt, sloe hunt, sloe hunt. We're going to get drunk, drunk, drunk..... not until next year if you can wait that long Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Wildfowler Posted August 31, 2006 Report Share Posted August 31, 2006 A tad early here to pick them. There is no need to ***** them if you are to put them in the freezer. The freezer will do that! Tip: Use brown suger not white. A few countryside recipes including Sloe Gin on HERE in Countryside Recipes section. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pavman Posted August 31, 2006 Report Share Posted August 31, 2006 some of the girls in our office are very slow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancs Lad Posted August 31, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2006 They are from blackthorn bushes / trees..... Ive got my pictures....time to go a hunting........ We're going on a sloe hunt, sloe hunt, sloe hunt. We're going to get drunk, drunk, drunk..... not until next year if you can wait that long Have to stick them up in the loft..........................or under the stairs when they get to the monthly turning cycle... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Wildfowler Posted August 31, 2006 Report Share Posted August 31, 2006 Have to stick them up in the loft..........................or under the stairs when they get to the monthly turning cycle... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancs Lad Posted August 31, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2006 Have to stick them up in the loft..........................or under the stairs when they get to the monthly turning cycle... I was on about the wife.............shes doing my head in..................................just get on your bike woman... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old rooster Posted September 2, 2006 Report Share Posted September 2, 2006 A tad early here to pick them. There is no need to ***** them if you are to put them in the freezer. The freezer will do that! Tip: Use brown suger not white. A few countryside recipes including Sloe Gin on HERE in Countryside Recipes section. Agree on the brown sugar, we always use the very fine stuff as it seems to dissolve better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Geordie Posted September 2, 2006 Report Share Posted September 2, 2006 Just watch out for the bloody thorns They are just about ready here and as sour as a stare from john prescott So can someone please elaborate on the making of Slo Gin so i can give it a go as i can get a fair few slo berries from near my Brothers AND near a local camp site Thanks in advance LG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancs Lad Posted September 3, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2006 I went round my permission yesterday............. NOTHING....................Not one bush... Plenty of blackberries and elderberries,,,,but nowt else... except hawthorns.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurcherboy Posted September 3, 2006 Report Share Posted September 3, 2006 If you pay postage I will send you as many as you can afford. LB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millomite Posted September 4, 2006 Report Share Posted September 4, 2006 having never made sloe gin before can someone advise. the berries are now quite soft and have no green on the outside. the inside however is green, are they ready for picking? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Posted September 4, 2006 Report Share Posted September 4, 2006 Yes they are, It is best to leave them as long as possible. But the birds will get them, normally the day before you go to pick them. put equal quantities of fruit and gin in a large bottle (demijohns are ideal) with some sugar. I put 700g of fruit, 700ml of gin (a bottle) and 350g of sugar. I also put a piece of cinnamon bark in as well. Leave for about 6 months, give a good shake on a daily basis. Cheers Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted September 4, 2006 Report Share Posted September 4, 2006 Hi, Would the sloe experts consider these 2 lots of sloes ready for freezing? They look slightly darker in the pics that in real life, some appear to be slightly redish? FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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