Sloes

Has anyone picked any yet?

They seem to be ripe here, but not overly sure.

Steve...

 

Only as a mouth freshener when i'm out for a walk. Seemed ripe. But then i'm a long way from Cumbria.

 

I think I might make some sloe gin for christmas, what's it taste like? and what recipes are you using? :D

 

I hate Gin...will be making Sloe Jelly and Sloe wine...

Steve...

 

I'd wait until after the first frost before picking sloes

 

Thats the standard advice that I have read due to the frost starting to break the flesh down, therefore allowing juice from the berries easier for sloe gin making, however that has no bearing on ripening.

Other hedgerow berries have matured earlier than normal this year so I think Sloes will be the same too, I already know of some people who are or have picked ripe sloes (Southern counties).

I was hoping someone in an area relative to me (Cumbria - oop norf) might know if they are ripe this far up, I've steared clear of sloes all my life and would not know when they are ripe or not...all I can say right now is that they are certainly not as sharp as they where 3 weeks ago and the berries are less firm than they where.

Steve...

 

I hate Gin too...but having said that i love Sloe Gin !!!!

 

The way i describe the taste is ...it's like a lovely sweet cough mixture:WINK1:
It reminds me of christmas...(not that thats anything to do with christmas:DOHI'll dig out a recipe..

 

I've now found out that Sloes are just about ripe here in North West Cumbria, being so far north I would expect they will be ripe just about everywhere by now.

So I'll be out picking this week some time now.

Steve...

 

Ive filled the first demijohn with Gin - lots of ripe sloes around here !

 

have several demijohns full of sloe gin that i did 3 weeks back as soon as they have that bluey white hue to them we pop them in the freezer for 48 hours to split them and then bottle ...still lots around so will pick more this week and freeze for the next lot......oh and seeing as raspberries were cheap i did some raspberry vodka too mmmmmm