ollie Posted January 25, 2015 Report Share Posted January 25, 2015 Didn't want to hijack the other thread regarding bramble whiskey. My Sloes were soaked in gin almost 3 months ago now. One of them has a stick of cinnamon & the other a little vanilla. I have no interest in drinking it now as I want it for after a shoot day, so will it keep until next season? Should I remove the sloes now and store the gin until next season or am I better keeping the sloes in the jars? Also, if I open it for a sneaky sip, would it keep to next season? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark1206 Posted January 25, 2015 Report Share Posted January 25, 2015 usually leave mine 12 months before I bottle it..always taught longer the better...will bottle it just before I pick the sloes next year so I have the kilner jars ready for the next batch... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
39TDS Posted January 25, 2015 Report Share Posted January 25, 2015 Doesn't matter either way. Bottling now gives it chance to settle, there will be bits in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ollie Posted January 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2015 I'll maybe leave it until I pick the next batch next year. Don't need the jars for anything. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mat Posted January 26, 2015 Report Share Posted January 26, 2015 I've got 3 litres in a demijohn, its been in there over a year now. I suspect it might be another year before its opened! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aled Posted January 26, 2015 Report Share Posted January 26, 2015 Ah a nice tip for you: When you have decanted the Gin, get a cheap bottle of sherry, and two teaspoons of sugar and tip over the sloes, leave for 1 month. You usually get an extra tipple from one lot of sloes. Cheers Aled Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted January 26, 2015 Report Share Posted January 26, 2015 I do 2 Demi johns a year and leave them for around 18 months before bottling them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazb1967 Posted January 30, 2015 Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 I had a bottle that was 3year old today, bottled and made by myself and it was really nice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aris Posted January 31, 2015 Report Share Posted January 31, 2015 Does the kind of gin make a big difference? Also (perhaps a silly question) - does any store bought sloe gin compare to the home made stuff? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
39TDS Posted January 31, 2015 Report Share Posted January 31, 2015 Does the kind of gin make a big difference? Also (perhaps a silly question) - does any store bought sloe gin compare to the home made stuff? No and no Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aris Posted January 31, 2015 Report Share Posted January 31, 2015 No and no Haha ok - so supermarket 'value gin' is the order of the day - and if I want some decent stuff, i'll have to make it myself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr D Posted January 31, 2015 Report Share Posted January 31, 2015 Bottle it now, you wont draw anything more from the berries. But if you leave it a year the alcohol will mellow and it is much richer drink, totally superior. As for floaty bits. Strain it through a pair of the wifes tights! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aris Posted January 31, 2015 Report Share Posted January 31, 2015 Has anyone tried using dried sloes? I'd like to give this a go, but i'm a few months late to find wild ones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ollie Posted January 31, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2015 Bottle it now, you wont draw anything more from the berries. But if you leave it a year the alcohol will mellow and it is much richer drink, totally superior. As for floaty bits. Strain it through a pair of the wifes tights! So strain it now, bottle it & leave it till next season? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oliver90owner Posted January 31, 2015 Report Share Posted January 31, 2015 We make sloe gin one year; the next sloe season usually sees the last year crop into brandy for another year. Sloe gin is more popular than the brandy, but it ekes out the gin, come Christmas, for prezzies around the family. I might have nearly finished the 2005 sloe gin by now. No real comparison with shop bought stuff. No shortage of demijohns around here. About forty currently in use, mainly for wines. I missed a few seasons, what with the ticker problems, but there are about 2-3kg sloes in the freezer at the moment, just waiting for me to decide the next recipe..... RAB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
39TDS Posted February 1, 2015 Report Share Posted February 1, 2015 As a Christmas present my missus was given something resembling sloe gin. It was a fancy bottle, about half a litre, of vodka or gin with just half a dozen or so sloes in it. Enough to colour the spirit and enough to flavour it so I couldn't tell if it were vodka or gin. It was very nice and a really good thing to make or receive as a gift. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniel Posted February 1, 2015 Report Share Posted February 1, 2015 Just bottled our sloe vodka and blackcurrent vodka today Blackcurrents now in freezer to use later but can I do anything else with the sloes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aris Posted February 1, 2015 Report Share Posted February 1, 2015 Blackcurrents now in freezer to use later but can I do anything else with the sloes What do they taste like after being steeped in sugar and alcohol for several months? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yellow Bear Posted February 1, 2015 Report Share Posted February 1, 2015 What do they taste like after being steeped in sugar and alcohol for several months? Shaun is the man for this - does something with dark chocolate if I remember correctly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aris Posted February 1, 2015 Report Share Posted February 1, 2015 Shaun is the man for this - does something with dark chocolate if I remember correctly That was my thought - if they have lost their astringency, and are palatable, I would chill (maybe individually freeze) then dip in semi-sweet dark chocolate and allow to harden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
39TDS Posted February 1, 2015 Report Share Posted February 1, 2015 Best thing I have found is tip them into a load of cider. It makes "slider" apparently. A strange drink that I can't really describe but worth a go. As for the dark chocolate, well maybe but it sounds like a good way to spoil some chocolate IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperGoose75 Posted February 17, 2015 Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 3 to 4 months is fine' strain and Bottle and keep as long as you wish. A couple of tips I was given for the Alcohol soaked fruit is to have with Ice Cream as an Adult desert or when you Roast a Bird Duck/goose ect or Venision is to Mash the fruit into the pan juices of your roast to create a nice sauce. Heres a photo of Some damson Gin and Vodka I made a few years ago that was ready for Christmas that year. IT was a good year for damsons.A brace of mallard also for the Table. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aled Posted February 18, 2015 Report Share Posted February 18, 2015 Cracking SuperGoose, looks lovely! Cheers Aled Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratbuster Posted February 18, 2015 Report Share Posted February 18, 2015 I would go for that Guinness ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markr Posted February 21, 2015 Report Share Posted February 21, 2015 just made 2ltrs of sloe gin up from frozen sloes. looking forward to xmas to try a little out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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