Looking for an incredibly easy homemade present, or fun thing to serve people in Winter? Look no further, this sloe & blackberry gin takes an hour to make (plus giving it a quick shake each day for the following week), then hides away in the house for +3 months until you’re ready to start impressing people. The flavour’s amazing, and opens up a world of Christmas cocktails and sweet treats!

Sloe & Blackberry Gin Recipe

Prep Time: 3+ Months

Cook Time: N.a.

Difficulty: Easy

Serves: 2 Litres

Ingredients

  • Sloes - 500g

  • Blackberries 300g

  • Golden Caster Sugar - 350g

  • Gin - 1 Litre

Specialist Equipment

  • Sealable bottles (e.g. Kilner bottles) - enough for c. 2 litres, I used four 0.5L bottles

Method

Sloe & Blackberry Gin Step One - Preperation

Sterilise the bottles (either by boiling or thoroughly cleaning).

Wash the blackberries and chop in half. Wash the sloe berries and pierce with a cocktail stick, or similar (as this will help them defuse into the gin).

 

Sloe & Blackberry Gin Step Two - fruitful

Divide the sloes and blackberries equally placing them in the bottles. I found it easiest to place 5 in each at a time until you run out.

 

Sloe & Blackberry Gin STEP Three - Sugar

Using a funnel (or folded piece of paper), divide the sugar equally pouring each into the bottle over the berries.

 

Sloe & Blackberry Gin STEP Four - Gin

Using a funnel (or a very steady hand), divide the gin equally pouring each into the bottle over the sugar-berry mix.

 

Sloe & Blackberry Gin STEP Five - Shake it Up

Seal the bottles and give them a good shake to start to dissolve the sugar. Find a cool dark place to keep them.

For the first week (or until the sugar is full dissolved), give the bottles a little shake. Then once you’ve done than, leave in a cool dark place for at least 3 months.

 

Sloe & Blackberry Gin STEP SIX - Sloe & Blackberry Gin

Sloe & Blackberry Gin

Once you’re ready to enjoy the gin, sieve it through a very fine sieve or muslin. Keep the berries to add to cakes, mince pies, etc. Enjoy the gin infusion either on its own or in a slow gin cocktail.

And that’s it, hope you enjoy!