The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Food & crafts => Home brewing => Topic started by: leanne.durrant on August 19, 2015, 11:37:29 am

Title: Homemade Elderberry Cordial & Sloe Gin
Post by: leanne.durrant on August 19, 2015, 11:37:29 am: Hi All,

I'm looking for a little advise and wondering if you all might be able to help me.

We've just moved onto a smallholding and have a bounty of Elderberries and Sloes so we are looking to make some Sloe Gin and Elderberry Cordial.

Normally I'd head to the local supermarket to buy the Gin and Vodka, but I was wondering if there is any where that specialises in selling for home creations.

Any advise would be greatly welcome.

Many thanks
Title: Re: Homemade Elderberry Cordial & Sloe Gin
Post by: doganjo on August 19, 2015, 09:50:57 pm: I've only done sloe gin once and it was delicious - got teh berries when on holiday, just don't have any here.

I used cheap gin, covered berries with it after pricking each berry twice. Add sugar to taste, shake every day for a month then strain, and enjoy.

Same procedure with any spirit and any berry I'd imagine

Many of the supermarkets have Kilner type bottles, ideal for filling and labelling for gifts for christmas
Title: Re: Homemade Elderberry Cordial & Sloe Gin
Post by: Bionic on August 20, 2015, 07:52:53 am: I basically did the same with my sloe gin last year as Annie has suggested above. I used a kilner type bottle and put it away in a dark cupboard. I forgot about it until recently but must say I was very impressed when I tasted it.
I'm definitely on the lookout for more sloes ;D
Title: Re: Homemade Elderberry Cordial & Sloe Gin
Post by: Backinwellies on August 20, 2015, 10:18:29 am: Sloes by the 1000's here Sally ..... don't charge too much for pick yr own! :innocent:
Title: Re: Homemade Elderberry Cordial & Sloe Gin
Post by: Rosemary on August 20, 2015, 12:03:59 pm: Quote from: Backinwellies on August 20, 2015, 10:18:29 am
Sloes by the 1000's here Sally ..... don't charge too much for pick yr own! :innocent:

How much for pick and post? We have blackthorn but don't get (m)any sloes.

If you freeze the sloes, it bursts the skins - saves on the pricking :-)
Title: Re: Homemade Elderberry Cordial & Sloe Gin
Post by: Jukes Mum on August 20, 2015, 12:14:48 pm: Definitely agree with freezing them rather than pricking them.
Here's how we do ours
-freeze sloes
-pop in a jar with a bottle of cheap gin and sugar
- taste regularly and add sugar to taste

Our intention is always to make it in September ready for Christmas.
By the time we have done our regular tastings, we have never as yet had any left over by Christmas :roflanim:
Title: Re: Homemade Elderberry Cordial & Sloe Gin
Post by: The Mobile Butcher on August 20, 2015, 05:32:28 pm: Hi,
I would be interested in some sloes, pick and post..... this could be the way forward ;D
I'd be happy to cover costs, anybody got any spare sloes, going cheap ? :fc:
Title: Re: Homemade Elderberry Cordial & Sloe Gin
Post by: Backinwellies on August 20, 2015, 06:59:49 pm: Looks like I may have found a new source of income!
Title: Re: Homemade Elderberry Cordial & Sloe Gin
Post by: The Mobile Butcher on August 20, 2015, 09:10:10 pm: This time hext year Rodney, we wil, be millionaire s hehe :excited:
Id like enough to do a couple bottles gin, if thats ok :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Homemade Elderberry Cordial & Sloe Gin
Post by: darkbrowneggs on August 20, 2015, 09:34:41 pm: Damson Gin is lovely as well and not so much trouble. You can reuse the sloes, and though its not a strong taste its still okay. After two soakings i drained the sloes well and then mixed them in with white chocolate. `its a fiddly one to eat as its full of stones, but waste not want not, and I enjoyed it :)
Title: Re: Homemade Elderberry Cordial & Sloe Gin
Post by: devonlady on August 26, 2015, 08:50:13 am: We have loads of sloes and I would be happy to send off enough for a bottle of sloe gin to anyone. Pm me if you want some.
Title: Re: Homemade Elderberry Cordial & Sloe Gin
Post by: Bionic on August 26, 2015, 09:12:21 am: Linda, if it stops raining this afternoon then I am going to see if I have enough sloes here. There were only a few last year but just enough.
If not you might well have a visitor :)
Title: Re: Homemade Elderberry Cordial & Sloe Gin
Post by: Backinwellies on August 26, 2015, 02:07:41 pm: No problem Sally .... no shortage here!
Title: Re: Homemade Elderberry Cordial & Sloe Gin
Post by: The Mobile Butcher on September 05, 2015, 09:23:09 am: Many thanks to Devonlady for the sloes, much appreciated and its sloe gin making time today. ( I have emailed you )
:excited: :wave: