General Discussion

My favourite cocktail is the Cosmopolitan - what's everyone elses favourite?

I serve my guests Cosmo's like this:

1 and a half parts vodka
1 part Cointreau
1 part Cranberry Juice
Dash of Lime Juice
1 Lime Rind

Shake all the ingredients with cracked ice, pour into a cocktail glass - et voila!

I'm not really a cocktail person, but I did once have a Black Russian.

+5

I bet you did!

At Christmas time, I'm rather partial to a Sloegasm - half sloe gin and half champagne. Not too many though as they're lethal!

Has anyone on here tried making their own Sloe Gin?

What I tend to do is pick the sloes, put them in the freezer (this helps to break down the fruit a little and does not necessitate having to prick each sloe with a needle).

I then put the sloes into a litre preserving jar or larger depending on what size bottle of gin am using (a litre bottle of gin you will need the next size up preserving jar) pour on the gin, put a small amount of sugar in say about 2 to 3 oz to start with.

Shake the jar daily until sugar has dissolved then test to see if sweet enough. If not adjust the sweetening at this point.

Leave until a week or two before Christmas, take out the sloes, drain, then bottle the liqueur.

Use up sloes by covering them in melted chocolate. Enjoy two items for the price of one!

I do tend to use the year before's sloe gin to drink rather than they young stuff. Tend to keep each bottle a year before using.

Is there anywhere nearby where sloes can be picked?