Sloe gin
Ingredients
Sloes 500g
Caster Sugar 225g (150g if you prefer a 'drier' gin)
Gin 1 litre
Method
1. Prick the tough skin of the sloes all over with a clean needle and put in a large sterilised jar.
2. Pour in the sugar and the gin, seal tightly and shake well.
3. Turn the jar every day for one week and every time you remember thereafter for 3 months.
4. After 3 months strain the gin through a piece of muslin and then it's ready to drink.
5. The sloe gin will now be a beautiful dark red and ready to drink, although it will still improve with keeping.
5. Variation: make blackberry brandy in the same way, substituting blackberries for the sloes and brandy for the gin. Blackberries do not need pricking.
Notes on first production
Soaked Slow and gon for 4 months, then strained of liquid through a sive.
Then added a further 200mls of gin to Sloes and left for a further 1 month.