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Quote: Originally posted by Mrs. Bonce on 16/11/2013

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4 years before drinking Stuart? I might be dead before that...thanks anyway.

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Making your own Sloe gin is fun and costs much less than buying it ready made. We look for them when we're away camping and label the bottle e.g. Shrewsbury Sloes, which reminds us of the site. Though we can't find Sloes every year hereabouts, seems to depend on weather - I keep an eye open for the frothy blossom in Spring, and go back later: just after the first frost gives the best coloured Sloe gin. We just pour out of the original bottle with berries in.  "Used" berries go into venison casserole. Waitrose magazine has a cocktail with 2 parts sloe gin to 1 part Martini Rosso, dash of Angostura Bitters, ice & lemon slice - not tried it yet. 

I can recommend making Raspberry Whisky - bottle half full of rasps, fill bottle with cheap whisky, you don't need to add sugar as the fruit is sweet, keep until Christmas and enjoy - it's pink and smooth, delicious even if you don't like whisky (the whisky taste disappears). Had a glut of eating apples and made Apple vodka - kilner jar full to the top with apple pieces, add vodka: it's golden but quite lightly flavoured of apple, rather than being a Calvados substitute. Damson Vodka is delicious. Made our own Kir / cassis too, when we had blackcurrants - again, cheaper than buying, and fun to make.