What you should do is place the sloes in a freezer bag and freeze them for a day or two. Pricking them ruptures the fruit, allowing the flavour to leak out while they are sitting in the gin. However, freezing is better as it ruptures the sloes completely and evenly.

Does freezing sloes split them?

Wash sloes and seal in an airtight bag. Freeze overnight or until you're ready to make the gin. Put frozen sloes into sterilised jar or empty gin bottles. ... Their skins will split which means you can avoid the laborious pricking of each individual sloe berry.

How long do sloes last in the freezer?

Once frozen, sling the sloes into a clean 1 litre bottle. Funnel in the sugar and then cover with gin. Turn the bottle daily for a week or two, then just turn it (upside down and back again) every week or so. You can drink it after about 2 months but 6 would be better (no-one ever waits that long).

Why are sloes better after a frost?

SLOE BERRIES CAN ONLY BE PICKED AFTER THE FIRST FROST

The thinking is that frost helps sweeten the berries (or typically coincides with when they're at their ripest), and assists in breaking down their thick skins so their juices better infuse with the gin.

Can you leave sloes in gin too long?

Now the gin is ready to drink – but is best left to mature for a bit longer (a couple of months) – it will now keep indefinitely. Don't throw the sloes away after you've drained them – they are now deliciously sweet and can be covered in chocolate and eaten with ice-cream, or as a post-supper treat.

Sloe, Bullace or Damson? How to tell the difference

Can you freeze sloes for gin?

What you should do is place the sloes in a freezer bag and freeze them for a day or two. Pricking them ruptures the fruit, allowing the flavour to leak out while they are sitting in the gin. However, freezing is better as it ruptures the sloes completely and evenly.

What do you do with sloes after making sloe gin?

1. Decant the sloe berries from the gin and put the sloes into a lidded container.
2. Mix in the sugar and wine, stir well and leave for up to three months. Give it a shake as and when you remember.
3. After three months add in the brandy. ...
4. Decant the sloe port from the container and enjoy!

What month do you pick sloes?

When should sloes be picked? Sloes should be picked when ripe and rich dark blue-purple in colour, and can be squashed. Some may have already fallen to the ground naturally. Traditionally sloes shouldn't be picked until after the first frost, as it's thought the frost splits the skin.

Should you defrost sloes before making sloe gin?

Thawing the sloes under spirit prevents them discolouring. Put in enough sloes to just under half-fill the jar. ... At first shake the jar every few days until the sugar has dissolved then gently every week thereafter. The gin will quite quickly go pink and then go dark purple in the next few weeks.

How do you store sloe gin?

Store the jar in a dark cupboard, shaking once every day until the sugar has all dissolved. After 3 months – or 6 months or a year – strain out the sloes, using a muslin-lined funnel placed in a bottle. Cork or seal your bottle and store in a dark cupboard.

Is sloe gin more alcoholic than gin?

Sloe Gin tends to have a lower alcohol content than traditional gin of 15 and 30 percent by volume. The Settlers Sloe Gin is pleasantly tart with attractive juniper and herbal notes, but is a proper gin with an alcohol content of 43 ABV.

Can homemade sloe gin go off?

Basically, the gin's flavour will change (and get slightly worse) very gradually over time. It's preferable to use up an opened bottle of gin within a year. Although it won't go off, after a year or more opened gin won't taste particularly nice.

What is the best sloe gin?

• of 8. WINNER: Mother's Ruin - Best sloe gin. ...
• of 8. RUNNER UP: Tesco Finest* Sloe Gin. ...
• of 8. Marks & Spencer Sloe Gin. ...
• of 8. Ableforth Bathtub Sloe Gin. ...
• of 8. City of London Sloe Gin. ...
• of 8. Warner's Harrington Sloe Gin. ...
• of 8. Gordon's Sloe Gin. ...
• of 8.

Can sloes be mistaken for anything poisonous?

Sloe bushes have sharp thorns and wild damson trees do not. ... Steve pointed out (see comments) that sloes can be confused with Deadly Nightshade – you can see some photos Deadly Nightshade photos here. Wild plums taste like domestic plums (from sharp Mirabelles to sweet Victorias).

Do birds eat sloe berries?

Birds and berries

The larger Mistle Thrush shows a strong preference for sloes over haws, while Redwing finds sloes too large to tackle, preferring instead to feed on haws, a preference also shown by Fieldfare.

Are sloes poisonous?

While a small amount of raw berry will probably have little effect, the berries do contain hydrogen cyanide, which in larger doses may definitely have toxic effect. However, the berries are processed commercially into sloe gin as well as in wine making and preserves.

Does sloe gin need to be refrigerated?

The rule I use is: If it's under 15% alcohol or if the base is wine, it goes in the fridge once it's open. Spirits like whiskey, rum, gin, vodka, etc. don't need to be refrigerated because the high alcohol content preserves their integrity.

Why is my sloe gin cloudy?

If you cut the sloes, the liquid will be cloudy, if you pricked the sloes with a fork (or a silver hat pin) then it should clear.

Can you mix sloe gin with tonic?

Sloe gin is deliciously sweet with rich notes of plum and red berries. ... Combining this fruity sweetness with the bitter notes found in Fever-Tree Lemon Tonic Water makes for a perfectly balanced and refreshing long drink.

Can you pick sloes in December?

The blackthorn produces these small, damson-like fruits across the bush and are most ripe after the first frost of winter. Blackthorns blossom between March and April and yield fruit from August to November - but it is advised to wait until later in the season to pick the best sloes.

Can you pick sloes in January?

Sloes. The blue-black berries of blackthorn are ready for picking from the end of September to December.

Does sloe gin get better with age?

Sloe Gin improves with age (to a certain point), so make more than you need and keep some for next year.

How long does homemade sloe gin keep?

Once a day for seven days, give the jar a good shake. Store the jar in a cool, dark place and leave for two to three months.

What do you do with fruit after making gin?

1. Freeze the Fruit for Later. ...
2. Make Fruit Infused Liquor. ...
3. Turn it into Dessert. ...
4. Use it as a Glaze on Meat. ...
5. Make Jelly or Jam. ...
6. Make an Alcoholic Smoothie. ...
7. Create Boozy Ice Cubes. ...
8. Compost Leftover Alcohol Soaked Fruit.