Sloes - does size matter?!

[Fishpond]

It's been mentioned we are seeing a lot of wild berries this year including sloes which are hanging like bunches of grapes almost on some bushes near me. What i have noticed is some are numerous but quite small whilst others are the more usual size and less densely distributed - anyone have any views on which i should pick for sloe gin? I've tried a few and as usual some are more stringent than others when you taste them - again should I pick the ones from bushes where they are sharper in flavour or the less sharp ones and adjust sugar accordingly? Never really worried about it too much before as usually just pick what I can find aftet the "early birds" have picked the easy obvious ones but this year there is so much choice!

Cheers

Richard

 

[Essexsussex]

I would say if they are sharp rather than astringent they aren’t ripe quite

 

[Cottis]

It is still too early to pick sloes. Size doesn't really matter. Just wait for the first frost to hit and then grab as many as you can and freeze those you don't use.

The hedgerows are absolutely loaded with them this year. Maybe the biggest bumper crop of them I have seen this decade so far.

 

[TringSaint]

I’ve never had any issue with picking early and freezing them before making gin. The chances of having a decent frost any time soon (esp in deepest Hertfordshire) is pretty slim so I will pick them in the next couple of weeks, freeze them for a few days and then it’s gin ahoy!!

 

[lochty]

I go for damsons instead, picked 3 weeks ago and nearly ready to consume.

 

[muddy42]

Wait for the first frost and yes pick the largest you can.

I'm a purist and I don't think freezing the sloes produces quite as good slow gin as naturally ripened and jack frosted.

Similarly unripe apples don't produce as good apple juice as ripe soft ones.

 

[gr cz527]

No need to wait but if you feel the need try an experiment. Pick a batch now and freeze and a batch after a frost. Done it years ago and noticed very little difference. Heavy croppers up here too. Picked mine yesterday. Now freezing for a week.

 

[sauer]

After 4 or 5 glasses ye can't tell difference...or care

 

[Covert]

Wait for frost or Freeze.
Add a little vanilla, either pods or extract, makes for a much smoother taste.

 

[HistoricBore]

I go for damsons instead, picked 3 weeks ago and nearly ready to consume.

Me too! Hic...

HB

 

[Miki]

Wait for frost or Freeze.
Add a little vanilla, either pods or extract, makes for a much smoother taste.

Eh ??

How are you making your Sloe Gin ?

 

[old 30-06]

Sloes are small, round, astringent, and spaced infrequently on the branch. If they are not astringent, then they are probably Bulace. These are round, slightly bigger than sloes, and are found in clumps on the branch of the tree. Damsons can almost be eaten off the tree, are bigger still, oval in shape, and found in dense clumps on the branch. Hope this helps.

 

[TringSaint]

You know when I said that it was highly unlikely that we would have a frost in deepest Hertfordshire any time soon, and that I would just pick and freeze sloes come what May, well you wouldn’t believe what I have woken up to today!

A frost!!

Sloe picking shall commence forthwith!

 

[shakey jake]

You know when I said that it was highly unlikely that we would have a frost in deepest Hertfordshire any time soon, and that I would just pick and freeze sloes come what May, well you wouldn’t believe what I have woken up to today!

A frost!!

Sloe picking shall commence forthwith!

noticed a very light frost here today as well

 

[Tim.243]

Eh ??

How are you making your Sloe Gin ?

What happened to your post on the .308 head thread?

 

[EssexBigMac]

Saw this earlier, does anyone live local? I’ll send you a few bags and we can share the gin

 

[Border]

Not quite the same but cranberry vodka on the go here....

 

[RM100]

Well I find this educational. I have been eating sloes. Well, some are sloes some are definitely bulace or damsons. But all 3 are brilliant to eat, when ripe.

 

[sauer]

Sloe whisky is good

I prefer damson to slow gin but no idea where any local to me ... ...

I need to make more slow whisky
1ltr whisky
1kg berries
250grm golden Castor sugar
Bottle ensuring skins burst on berries
Stor in cupboard
Shake every day till sugar dissolved
Bottle after 6 months

 

[3red dogs]

Pick sloes when you find them . Size doesn’t matter.
Freeze them . No need to prick them.
Pick loads when you find them.Kp them in freezer for years.
Make sloe gin and then use the same sloes for sloe whisky and then add them to chocolate for proper tasty desserts