Sloes/Bullace/Damson

[Scaryfish]

How do

Okay so picked - well shaken down from HUGE tree - about 500g BIG purple fruits

As far as I could see no spines - tree is BIG - taller thatn house easily aith fruits spaced out on branches.

1. Can i treat as sloes etc and Gin them

2. are the very ripe ones with slight puckering to the skin - but still soft to touch and juicy ok to use?

Cheers

[grahamhobbs]

You can preserve most fruit in strong alcohol but damsons won't taste like sloes. Not a great sloe gin drinker myself, but with sloe gin I don't think you are expected to eat the sloes, so if you are only flavouring the gin then I don't think the puckering of the fruit will be a problem. If you are intending to eat the 'pickled' fruit, which is an option if the damsons(?) are not too sharp as sloes, then I would only choose nice smooth skinned ones. Some people add a bit of sugar if intending to eat the fruit, and obviously pack the jar with fruit.

[Scaryfish]

Thanks for your reply

Yes just using to flavour gin so actual fruit not so importamt (tho i believe the fruit is amazing with ice cream afterwards)

Okay just need to find a wide neck bottle now to fit the great things into!!

Cheers

[Peggy Sue]

I did Damson vodka a couple of years ago (same sort of recipe)- very nice