All images / Mike Ahern
I tend to do quite well at resisting the temptation to jump into Christmas early, even when many of those around me have already begun hunting down pressies. However, making up my first ever batch of Sloe Gin recently induced a minor twinge of festivity within me.
The Sloe berries came courtesy of a good friend's Mum, the wonderful Mrs Foxwell, handpicked from a hedgerow somewhere in the depths of the beautiful Wiltshire countryside. Mrs F also kindly provided the recipe for Sloe gin, which I am sharing with you today.
When I say this is a simple one to make, I mean it! To begin, I placed the berries in a deep bowl and stabbed them with a fork to release the juices. I then took one empty bottle and filled it with 1/3 of sugar, followed by a 1/3 of the Sloe berries, and finally I topped up the bottle with Gin.
After securing the lid on the bottle, I give this a little shake and turn every day (it's my new workout!) and will continue to do so until all of the sugar has dissolved. Mrs F recommends leaving the Sloe Gin for at least two months before straining into a new bottle and serving either as a liqueur or adding a small amount to a glass of Prosecco.
I think my batch should be ready just in time for a Christmas tipple with friends!