I'm depressed. I didn't find any sloes or damsons this year for making gin. Got any ideas of anything else I could use instead, while I'm waiting for autumn?

anything red and small!

did you freeze any black/rasp berries this year?

you can layer those with brown sugar in pretty much any clear drink, vodka, bacardi, gin etc
or buy some cherries and stick 'em in some brandy (p'raps add some almond essence too?)

i have a friend who make a liquer with peaches, i can get the recipe if you like?

Tara xxx

Anything red and small? I love it - I guess I'll use LP's plastic beads then!!!!!

I haven't got soft fruit but I might raid mum's freezer for some of her blackberries and raspberries! I did think of making a rumtoft (forgive the spelling) have you ever made one of those?

I'd love to have the peaches recipe if you could get it - thank you!

not sure if it qualifys as rumtoft but we did a posh xmas drink the other year.
in june we stuck a layer of raspberries in a kilner jar and covered with rum, a sprinkling of brown sugar and a pinch of cinnamon. then as other fruits ripened we added them so cherries, strawberries, blackberries more raspberries sloes/damsons, each time topping up the rum and sugar.
the fruit keeps dissolving down, you'd be amazed how much you can fit in!

it was rocket fuel by xmas day!

i'll get the peach recipe asap
Tara xxx

Sounds like rumtoft to me!!!! The last time I made it I used a huge clay breadbin - there was masses of the stuff and as you say, it was like rocket fuel! Lucky rockets hey?

I'll wait to hear from you then Tara - thanks!

CC my dad used to make sloe gin and god was it good stuff used to blow your head off

I usually make damson gin, every year, but this year (ahem) I sort of didn't!!! I've still got a bit of last years to keep me going though - hurrah!!!

These were free to pick while I was in France, they are now in the freezer, for the Sloe Gin of course,

but what I want to know is ... do you use the cheapest Gin you can find ...



I've just seen the photo ... a bit dark but they were huge and masses of them

oh yes Flo,
it will be unrecognizable in the finish

we generally go with lidls cheapest for the main batch (1 gallon this year) and any 'dodgy booze bought abroad' by friends for an experimental pickles jar full

This stuff is bleeping gorgeous ... have had to hide it from my son !! Need it for Chrsitmas

Also got the ones from bro in law who brough them up for J during the week ...

... we are now awash with sloe gin who's up for a Chistmas party??

So how was yours this year ???? Just got to the post-op bottle ( with flaked almonds this time ) ... magic stuff