Picking Sloes (for people of a certain age and sadness)

[cornish seagull]

Some say I need to get a life, but the excitement of finding the Sloe bush of all Sloe bushes sent a tingle up my spine! 3lbs in 20MINS!! And have made my first litre of sloe gin!

 

[the slow norris]

Nicely done, I made my 1st batch last Christmas and am looking forward to another couple of batches this year. I know the location of roughly 200yds of unbroken sloe bushes down a very isolated path in Suffolk so reckon I can get a good few lbs of sloes! One question though, when best to pick the sloe? Now or later?

 

[vegster]

I think they are a bit early this year. Just had a short break with Mrs V in Somerset and on a walk noticed a burgeoning crop of local Sloes,however, I have branched out in to Raspberry Gin and Blackberry Brandy.Still not attempted Rhubarb Vodka though.

 

[banjo]

3lbs in 20 minutes sounds a bit sloe to Me

 

[the slow norris]

Also, sugar in straight away or sugar syrup in later?

 

[cornish seagull]

Some say after the first frost but as I live in Cornwall that is a rare, so I pick my Sloes when they are dark blue and soft, put them in the freezer for a few days and then go for it.

 

[cornish seagull]

3lbs in 20 minutes sounds a bit sloe to Me

 

[cornish seagull]

Also, sugar in straight away or sugar syrup in later?

Straight away and let it ferment

 

[countryman]

Nicely done, I made my 1st batch last Christmas and am looking forward to another couple of batches this year. I know the location of roughly 200yds of unbroken sloe bushes down a very isolated path in Suffolk so reckon I can get a good few lbs of sloes! One question though, when best to pick the sloe? Now or later?

I won't be picking them until after the first frost.

 

[pwlr1966]

I make sloe whiskey, just substitute the gin for own brand whiskey and the sugar with honey, make it now ready for Christmas.

 

[chamakh_attack]

Is anyone happy to let on the location of any sloe bushes in East Sussex area? I'm guessing it is an often closely guarded secret but I'd love to start making my own rather than let my mother in law get all the credit for the annual sloe gin fest at Christmas.

 

[The Bun Elephant]

Is anyone happy to let on the location of any sloe bushes in East Sussex area? I'm guessing it is an often closely guarded secret but I'd love to start making my own rather than let my mother in law get all the credit for the annual sloe gin fest at Christmas.

Where about's are you .... Seen a few bushes whilst out and about dog walking ( just outside Brighton) that have sloes and damson tree as well if your into jams

 

[fat old seagull]

Cuckoo Trail near 'The Old Hellingly Station' Station Road.......lots of the things.

 

[Danny-Boy]

Is anyone happy to let on the location of any sloe bushes in East Sussex area? I'm guessing it is an often closely guarded secret but I'd love to start making my own rather than let my mother in law get all the credit for the annual sloe gin fest at Christmas.

Plenty in the Cuckmere Valley, Seaford Head golf-course has a lot.

A bit surprised that they are ready so early, wondering if there is some confusion wth damsons. The latter make better gin and the advantage is you can eat them afterwards, really good in jellies and trifles.

Sloes can be recycled after beeing steeped in gin, recommended is to put into really rough red wine and leave for a few weeks. The wine magically transforms into a kind of fortified sherry...

 

[Danny-Boy]

I won't be picking them until after the first frost.

Leave it too late and birds take 'em all. I think fieldfares find 'em scrummy.

 

[Rogero]

I won't be picking them until after the first frost.

That's what they say but would putting them in the freezer be the same?

 

[chamakh_attack]

Thanks guys, I'm in Eastbourne so very helpful thanks guys.

 

[dougdeep]

They make great wine too. 100 times cheaper than sloe gin.

 

[perseus]

Didn't have any Gin so I used Vodka. Don't.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Plenty in the Cuckmere Valley, Seaford Head golf-course has a lot.

A bit surprised that they are ready so early, wondering if there is some confusion wth damsons.

Or bullaces. We have both sloes and bullaces out our way and they look very similar. Check the difference by tasting. If it is utterly repellent, it's a sloe. But that won't detract from the fact that, after a few weeks steeped in sugary gin, sloes are utterly transformed.