A little late to the party this year as we've been so busy but just managed to pick 2lbs of sloes and they are in the freezer.
If you want a quicker steep you can do what we did last year. I took them out frozen and whilst still in the bag I laid them on a chopping board and bashed them with a rolling pin to split the skins. Got a lovely colour in the gin, very quickly data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7
I hand pricked ours for the first time, while the colour is great after only a couple of days, it was deadly dull doing it.
BTW @hyperfish I think you are supposed to store it out of sunlight...
Lol, we had this discussion last year data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7
They are back in the dark cupboard now after the photos.
Time to give some away next week so I decanted some from the first batch that I stared 15th Oct.
I tried using a coffee filter but it wasn't letting anything through so I just used the fine mesh filter basket in the end. I passed it though about five times but I reckon maybe it could be a little clearer, but its close enough.
Filter basket.
https://www.avforums.com/attachments/20171216_153821-jpg.953587/
Tastes gorgeous.
https://www.avforums.com/attachments/20171216_154150-jpg.953588/
These both look amazing
My Sloe Whisky..... Apart from 1 bottle. Has now been 'In with the fruit' for just over 2 years now.
Check on it, every now and again, and give it a twist/turn, still looks fine in there.
I guess nothing it happening. Tasted some mid last year and very nice.
After 2 years, probably about time I filtered it into bottles.
I did buy coffee filter papers, but as was said above, no good, as it didn't let hardly anything thru and just wasted it, making the filter wet.
Need to find a very fine mesh I think
I used one of these pictured below but there's plenty of other types. £1.29 delivered from eBay China, I didn't mind the wait. It needed rinsing under the tap a couple of times during the process, as it's fine enough to get clogged.
https://www.avforums.com/data/attachments/881/881595-c8b3c9f5c585f3e0ce766b7408832d67.jpg https://www.avforums.com/data/attachments/881/881597-467d3beaf62ea687333c122d3491c838.jpg
edit: Forgot the link Reusable Coffee Filter Gold Tone Permanent #4 Cone Shape Coffee Filter Mesh NEW| eBay
Looks better then my other idea of an old sock!data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7
Nearest I get to a sloe gin at the moment.
https://www.avforums.com/attachments/20171218_171345-jpg.954387/
Let us know what you think.