Sloe Gin Recipe

Fiona Caroline Photography sloe gin recipe

Sloe Gin Recipe


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I love gin. My sister loves gin. Sloes were in season, clearly we had to make sloe gin.

Now, it turns out sloe gin is probably the easiest thing to make in the world. It’s hardly even a recipe! But it’s SO nice, and so rewarding, at the end of winter, to have a drink of you’re very own handpicked sloe gin!

It’s now getting pretty close to sloe picking season (October & November FYI), so it is time to refresh our memories on how to make this tasty, tasty drink.

Ah, gin.

Here’s what you need:

  • GIN. (A good one, alright?)
  • Sugar (lot’s of it).
  • Wellies.

Here’s what you do:

  • Put on your wellies, get out into the countryside and find them sloes! (They’re blue, and round and they grow on the blackthorn bush.) Collect loads.
  • Right you’ve got your sloes, sugar & gin. Wash them sloes, grab a knife and cut a small ‘x’ shape into the bottom. Do this is with every berry.
  • Get you’re bottle (here comes the measurements!) and fill 1/3 to 1/2 of the bottle with your new, clean and ‘x marks the spot’ sloe berries. Obviously use a clean bottle (preferably sterilised)!
  • Pour in sugar until your berries are completely covered.
  • Get your gin! Pour to the top of the bottle. Seal tightly. Shake!
  • And you’re done, ta-dah! Now give the bottle(s) a good shake everyday for one week. Then once a week until Christmas.
  • Drink.
  • (Some people strain the berries after 3 month, some after 6. I have no idea. Its usually gone too quick.)

Sloe-1-2Sloe-1-3Let me know how it goes!

I’m going to go sloe picking very soon. I’m in London, so that’ll be interesting! Otherwise I will head back north, to beautiful Teesdale, and pick the berries with my sister again!

I am also thinking about making a festive gin (think cinnamon and cranberries)! If I do I will share the recipe (and results) here.

Happy sloe picking!

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2 Responses

  1. It’s taken me a good few years to realise Sloe Gin was a different concept to slow gin…d’oh. Might have to find me some as I’ve never ventured at the idea until now 🙂

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