- Thread starter robgil
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worms
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robgil said:
Must be a sloe news day!MdB said:
Flyfisher
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Our damson trees have no fruit this year either, so don't bank on that being an alternative to sloes this year. It seems to be a poor year for fruit in general.
Even the apples on our reliable old Bramley tree don't seem to be in the best of health. Lots of 'mottled' apples this year.
Even the apples on our reliable old Bramley tree don't seem to be in the best of health. Lots of 'mottled' apples this year.
eezageeza
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Raspberry Gin!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/allotment/2012/sep/06/allotments-gardens
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/allotment/2012/sep/06/allotments-gardens
vicky whitworth
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Just gin - forget the fruity bit.
What about nettles? I've never tried it though. Have the birds had all the elderberries? They have down here.
We didn't even get courgettes this year. Not that I'm advocating courgette gin. That would be weird.
What about nettles? I've never tried it though. Have the birds had all the elderberries? They have down here.
We didn't even get courgettes this year. Not that I'm advocating courgette gin. That would be weird.
worms
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Its been a very good year for Rowan berries and they can be used in a gin.
Or mixed with other local ingredients, given some marketing mystique and sold at a profit
Or mixed with other local ingredients, given some marketing mystique and sold at a profit
jocelyn plummer
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Elderberry, mulberries,--trouble is I think that most of those are over now. Sloes have been very poor here too this year.
FamilyWiggs
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- Flintshire, N Wales.
I normally have a surfeit of damsons; pounds and pounds and pounds. This year I have about seventeen.
I think it was the very wet spring and wet early summer. Few flowers and little pollination think.
I think it was the very wet spring and wet early summer. Few flowers and little pollination think.
tycarregydwr
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Most things have been bad this year - I do herbal medicine and elderberries are really important but people all over the country have found very few this year. One thing that there seems to be plenty of is Guelder Rose (aka crampbark) - bright red berries. Apparently you can make jelly out of them that tastes nice, though the consensus is that while you are making it it smells of dirty socks. I have not heard of anyone using them for gin or vodka but it could be tried? Rosehip vodka is also nice and there are plenty of those, not sure about rosehip gin though.
FamilyWiggs
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robgil said:
Well, the Queen Mother used to dilute it with Dubonnet! 8)
agbagb
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Agbagb's Missus
Any ideas for gin? Hmm, lots of it :lol:
Any ideas for gin? Hmm, lots of it :lol:
LadyArowana
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robgil said:
Singapore Sling, much better than just tonic.
JoceAndChris
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Oh, yum.
A terrible year for sloes, damsoms, bullaces and apples. The plums were alright. I'm sure the bees must have suffered dreadfully, but on the plus side other wildlife (up here at least) is storming ahead. For the first time since moving here I'm seeing slugs and snails in the garden, the earth rich with worms, and that in turn has lead to a healthy hedgehog population which is so lovely to see. We're also absolutely overrun with pheasants, and rabbits as usual, though that may be to do with the 150 acres of unfarmed farm land here turning increasingly wild. Buzzards have moved in, and the fox population has swelled. I lost 5 hens to mystery, daytime predation (no feathers or evidence as to what it was) so have had to say that's an end to the freedom of my birds. They're in large electric fenced enclosures now, and not very happy about it. But at least are safe.
My neighbour made me raspberry vodka, it was delicious.
A terrible year for sloes, damsoms, bullaces and apples. The plums were alright. I'm sure the bees must have suffered dreadfully, but on the plus side other wildlife (up here at least) is storming ahead. For the first time since moving here I'm seeing slugs and snails in the garden, the earth rich with worms, and that in turn has lead to a healthy hedgehog population which is so lovely to see. We're also absolutely overrun with pheasants, and rabbits as usual, though that may be to do with the 150 acres of unfarmed farm land here turning increasingly wild. Buzzards have moved in, and the fox population has swelled. I lost 5 hens to mystery, daytime predation (no feathers or evidence as to what it was) so have had to say that's an end to the freedom of my birds. They're in large electric fenced enclosures now, and not very happy about it. But at least are safe.
My neighbour made me raspberry vodka, it was delicious.
PeterI
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Personal favourite uses of gin.
Classic dry martini (Tanquery 10 please for the gin, stirred and with a twist)
Negroni - Equal measures gin, Red vermouth, Campari
French 75 - Gin, Champagne, Lemon Juice + Sugar syrup
Bramble - Gin, lemon juice, sugar syrup, blackberry liquer and lots of crushed ice.
The bramble (along with the espresso martini and the treacle) was Invented by Dick Bradsell who is currently working in the downstairs bar at el camion (the pink chihuahua is the bar name). Worth a visit if you'd like to drink at a cocktail legends bar although I'd go early as I suspect it gets busy later on.
Classic dry martini (Tanquery 10 please for the gin, stirred and with a twist)
Negroni - Equal measures gin, Red vermouth, Campari
French 75 - Gin, Champagne, Lemon Juice + Sugar syrup
Bramble - Gin, lemon juice, sugar syrup, blackberry liquer and lots of crushed ice.
The bramble (along with the espresso martini and the treacle) was Invented by Dick Bradsell who is currently working in the downstairs bar at el camion (the pink chihuahua is the bar name). Worth a visit if you'd like to drink at a cocktail legends bar although I'd go early as I suspect it gets busy later on.
88v8
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We had a good damson crop, but it take a lot of damsons to make damson gin. They went into jam... Blackberries good, apples awful after a fabulous 2011, don't have any sloes.
One can make a Patriotic Cocktail with gin, or vodka, called a Red White & Blue - 1 x gin, 1 x blue Curacao, dash Grenadine, add lemonade to taste.
Ivor
One can make a Patriotic Cocktail with gin, or vodka, called a Red White & Blue - 1 x gin, 1 x blue Curacao, dash Grenadine, add lemonade to taste.
Ivor
skier-hughes
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No damsons, greengages, plums, pears, sloes, very few apples and those that grew are small, no strawberries, but tons of raspberries and lots of bunches of grapes in the greenhouse!
I can recommend Ginger Vodka - Peel a good chunk of root ginger and cut into strips small enough to poke through the top of a bottle of Absolut. Leave for a month, turning occasionally. Gennly mix 9:1 with vermouth in lots of ice and strain into a Martini glass.
Recipe is based on one from this book by Colin Peter Field who ran/runs the Hemingway Bar at the Ritz Paris
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cocktails-Paris-Colin-Peter-Field/dp/0743247523
Now I need to find some wild ginger...
Recipe is based on one from this book by Colin Peter Field who ran/runs the Hemingway Bar at the Ritz Paris
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cocktails-Paris-Colin-Peter-Field/dp/0743247523
Now I need to find some wild ginger...