Old Speckled Hen Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 My local freecycle has a wanted ad for sloes `. Somebody can't survive without making sloe gin for Christmas. It's been a bad year for plums of any kind this year in Cumbria with a damson crop failure and ne'er a sloe to be seen in the hedgerow. This prompted a Google search and lo and behold I see that Waitrose is to sell the fruit at £4.99 a pound and you can "Buy it Now" on eBay for £10.00 a pound plus £2.50 Postage!!! Now there's an opportunity for any of us that have sloes in our hedges !!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 Good grief!! I suppose it's a good idea for those who can't get out and pick them from the hedgerows but how expensive the resulting sloe gin will be !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 Must tell my pal...she has a sloe bush in the wilderness bit at the bottom of her garden. She makes the most divine sloe GIn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted October 2, 2008 Author Share Posted October 2, 2008 I've made sloe gin for years and gave juggled around with recipes so each year has it's own characteristics. My OH has a few bottles that are 26 years old. We opened one last Christmas and it was absolute nectar!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 Oooh I'll bet that was divine!! My oldest bottle is only 4 years old and is smashing so I can only dream about something as wonderfully vintage as yours . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 No Sloes at all on 'my' bush down the lane from my house this year I did buy some from ebay once a few years ago,but they were nowhere near that price! I remeber them coming very quickly & being really good too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 We only have one tree with about a dozen sloes on it this year - I'm not going to make my fortune from those am I Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 My 'secret' place has a few sloes, enough for a couple of large bottles I hope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 None around here either - everything sloe related has been poor this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 My local freecycle has a wanted ad for sloes `. Somebody can't survive without making sloe gin for Christmas. Was it Pengy?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 None to be had here. I am devastated, as I was going to make it for Christmas presents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 Phil's going to see his folks this week, so I have given him instructions to scout around the farm for some sloes. All my usual haunts are bare - pitiful harvest this year. The raspberry voddy is brewing though... raspberries to be turned into a boozy pavlova for Christmas day! And I have a shed full of apples that need to be sorted and processed into jelly or jam! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 My local freecycle has a wanted ad for sloes `. Somebody can't survive without making sloe gin for Christmas. Was it Pengy?? CHEEK OF IT! That bottle of Gordons Sloe gin sat in my cupboard for 3years. Was gone in a month! I know where there are some sloes but I'm not sure I can wait. Oh hang on - Mum is cruising the med - they are BOUND to stop in Gibralter and the only reason anyone even bothers to get off the boat there is to get cheap duty free (if you've seen the rock and the monkeys once you are done and EVERY med cruise stops there!) Texting Mum now..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackiepoppies Posted October 7, 2008 Share Posted October 7, 2008 My pear and damson trees produced nothing this year BUT I got enough off the cherry tree for 7 1/2 litres of cherry brandy Jackiex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
