Sloe Gin

[Ifailed]

it's that time of year again, but I'm having real problems finding any . In the SE, and compared to last years bumper-crop most bushes are completely barren, and of the few I've found many are dried up already. Anyone else having any luck?

[feetheart]

It's a bit early isn't it? I thought sloes were much later.
I'm in the SE too and certainly haven't seen as many as last year which isn't really surprising! However the blackberries are MUCH bigger this year - it took a lot of work to get many last year as they were tiny.
Hoping to try blackberry vodka this time round :) I also need to decant and test last year's sloe gin.
Plum vodka already steeping :)

[Ifailed]

feetheart,
I've always made it in September. There is a theory that you should wait for the first frost, but as I always freeze them first to help split the skins I can't say I notice any difference from what other people make.
It's a bit academic anyway, only picked 2lbs of them in over 3 days, last year that would have taken an hour.

[feetheart]

That is a bit rubbish isn't it?
Couldn't believe how many of them there were last year So many that I made sloe gin (and vodka) for the first time, usually the ones I can get go into hedgerow jelly. Haven't decanted it and tasted it yet although the plum vodka always tastes good :)