Jega Posted November 9, 2013 Report Share Posted November 9, 2013 What a fantastic year for sloes this is ,went out this morning and picked a couple of pounds in no time . Just sorting them into the freezer ready for bottling tomorrow . :good: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted November 9, 2013 Report Share Posted November 9, 2013 A few years ago was better up round here. Some big sloes about but not in large quantities. Got to make the most of it when Mother Nature blesses us with a bumper crop. Figgy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFN Posted November 9, 2013 Report Share Posted November 9, 2013 Lucky you, not sure where you are but around here it has been very poor for sloes and damsons. They all seem very small and pretty sparse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
novice cushie shooter Posted November 10, 2013 Report Share Posted November 10, 2013 I have seen none in about 30 odd places i normally collect. Not a good year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kennett Posted November 10, 2013 Report Share Posted November 10, 2013 Excellent year round here in suffolk, i filled 2 lunch boxes without moving from one bush a fortnight ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeds chimp Posted November 10, 2013 Report Share Posted November 10, 2013 got 5 litres on the go...could not believe the amount Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackpowder Posted November 10, 2013 Report Share Posted November 10, 2013 Second year running that there are none with us, I think a lot depends upon the weather prevailing when the blackthorn is in bloom. Instead this year again its been bramble vodka a reasonable alternative. Blackpowder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted November 10, 2013 Report Share Posted November 10, 2013 Terrible year round here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activeviii Posted November 10, 2013 Report Share Posted November 10, 2013 A few years ago was better up round here. Some big sloes about but not in large quantities. Got to make the most of it when Mother Nature blesses us with a bumper crop. Figgy you sure their not bullaces? I think they make better Gin any way. little less tart on the gob. the sloes here are very small this year but big quantities on the bushes. shame the damsons didnt come good as its my favorite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hedge Posted November 10, 2013 Report Share Posted November 10, 2013 Bumper sloe harvest around here (Leicestershire) and went over to Lincolnshire 2 weeks ago and they bushes were literally overloaded. I picked some really nice ones. I have a small damson tree in my garden and it's done me proud this year. Damson vodka is better than the sloe vodka at the moment. So smooth! I've made loads of sloe gin and vodka as continuous "quality control" tends to leave very little for general consumption. I did think that Mail Order Sloes could be the way forward. I assumed everyone had bumper crops but realised there could be a gap in the market. Happy brewing.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amazed Posted November 10, 2013 Report Share Posted November 10, 2013 Had my fist tast of a sloe gin last night not quite ready but I was suprised how nice it was. Will have to get some on next year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Geordie Posted November 10, 2013 Report Share Posted November 10, 2013 My local supply was zilch this year. Not a good year as most bushes had a bout of june drop Still, ilI had some from last year, so have a batch of gin on the go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgguinness Posted November 10, 2013 Report Share Posted November 10, 2013 Same as Lord Geordie, ****** all here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old rooster Posted November 10, 2013 Report Share Posted November 10, 2013 Just had to walk up my paddock to pick enough to put down 5 litres of sloe gin They didn't need any freezing and started to really colour up the gin within 2 days. Wouldn't leave it too much longer to pick them as they are well soft enough now and quite a few of ours were already splitting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darren m Posted November 10, 2013 Report Share Posted November 10, 2013 am i picking the wrong things then they are really small here this year and very tart Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mat Posted November 10, 2013 Report Share Posted November 10, 2013 Been a bumper harvest of very large sloes this year, in fact the larges i've ever seen. Off the same bush last year they where half the size. Got 3 litres of sloe gin and 350ml of sloe brandy on the go and still have 1/2 kg of sloes left to use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jega Posted November 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2013 Just finished putting about 4 litres down . Later on this week i'll be straining off last years brew ready for the long cold winter nights . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darren m Posted November 11, 2013 Report Share Posted November 11, 2013 went back to have another look at the sloes this morning , these are so tart i cant believe and small too. is there another bush/tree that looks just like them with the same fruit but smaller , i,ve picked them before from different places and swear they are sloes but now i,m wondering if i,ve got the right species someone post a few pics please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bi9johnny Posted November 11, 2013 Report Share Posted November 11, 2013 i picked about 5 kilos a few weeks back and put in the freezer in case there isnt any next year as last year was bad and i gave my frozen stock to a mate.....still drinking two year old stuff now as i made loads Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salop Matt Posted November 11, 2013 Report Share Posted November 11, 2013 Loads around here, first day beating last week for this season and the headges were loaded with them ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lg1 Posted November 11, 2013 Report Share Posted November 11, 2013 went back to have another look at the sloes this morning , these are so tart i cant believe and small too. is there another bush/tree that looks just like them with the same fruit but smaller , i,ve picked them before from different places and swear they are sloes but now i,m wondering if i,ve got the right species someone post a few pics please sloes are very tart m8,,,, when you bite in to one they make your mouth dry.... dont worry about this tartness, this is why you add the sugar to balance it out. get them in the gin. mug of sugar over the top and wait... it will taste amazing in weeks.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lg1 Posted November 11, 2013 Report Share Posted November 11, 2013 Totally love sloe gin, 5 liters doing its job as we speak... try putting some in a saucepan and reducing down, pour over pigeon and pheasant! fantastic.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
p@cman Posted November 11, 2013 Report Share Posted November 11, 2013 went back to have another look at the sloes this morning , these are so tart i cant believe and small too. is there another bush/tree that looks just like them with the same fruit but smaller , i,ve picked them before from different places and swear they are sloes but now i,m wondering if i,ve got the right species someone post a few pics please darren, take a look at this website here >>>>; http://www.sloe.biz/pip/ Has lots of useful info on sloes and more importantly, some good recipes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old rooster Posted November 11, 2013 Report Share Posted November 11, 2013 (edited) went back to have another look at the sloes this morning , these are so tart i cant believe and small too. is there another bush/tree that looks just like them with the same fruit but smaller , i,ve picked them before from different places and swear they are sloes but now i,m wondering if i,ve got the right species someone post a few pics please They are very "tart" Darren, it is the sugar put into sloe gin that gives it that almost syrupy, smooth quality. As well as sloes there are a number of similar looking fruits, the true sloe comes from the blackthorn bush and are maybe 10 to 15mm in diameter. Bigger fruits are probably another species and I've used them to good effect before. You will often find a whitish tinge on the fruit which is predominantly dark purple. Some interesting observations on when they are ready to pick, it is suggested that the change in climate means they become ripe before we see frosts, I have to say that mine were ready to pick a couple of weeks back, nice and soft and some just starting to split. http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/x/sloe-15514936.jpg Comment from another source: "The sloes are nearly spherical and grow close to the branch. A raw sloe is a particularly disgusting beast – it’s sharp and astringent. It will make your tongue shrivel and your teeth squeak". Edited November 11, 2013 by old rooster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonno243 Posted November 11, 2013 Report Share Posted November 11, 2013 They are very "tart" Darren, it is the sugar put into sloe gin that gives it that almost syrupy, smooth quality. As well as sloes there are a number of similar looking fruits, the true sloe comes from the blackthorn bush and are maybe 10 to 15mm in diameter. Bigger fruits are probably another species and I've used them to good effect before. You will often find a whitish tinge on the fruit which is predominantly dark purple. Some interesting observations on when they are ready to pick, it is suggested that the change in climate means they become ripe before we see frosts, I have to say that mine were ready to pick a couple of weeks back, nice and soft and some just starting to split. http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/x/sloe-15514936.jpg Comment from another source: "The sloes are nearly spherical and grow close to the branch. A raw sloe is a particularly disgusting beast – it’s sharp and astringent. It will make your tongue shrivel and your teeth squeak". I have noticed this as well. I was always raised with the "best wait for the first frost" school of thought, but was out nearly three weeks ago and harvested 12lbs in just under 2 hours of picking. The only reason I stopped was because it was starting to get awfully expensive with the amount of whisky and gin required... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.