Archive for countrytalkandtips.myfreeforum.org ........................ smallholding, crafts and country life ................................................... IN IRELAND .......................................................
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blowin
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sloe cordialI have never come across this drink , or even heard of it until a friend gave me a bottle a couple of weeks ago .
Take an empty fizzy drink bottle with a screw cap . ( The returnable bottles are stronger than others ) . Fill it to 3/4 capacity with whole ripe sloes . Don't wash or prick them first . Add sugar so it fills the gaps to about 1/2 way up the bottle . Top up with water . Seal the gap at the bottom of the screw cap with candlewax . Bury a reasonable depth underground ( to maintain a constant temperature ) . Remove and drink after about 3 months -- open with caution !!!
It comes out slightly fizzy , a lovely flavour a bit like bitter cherry in a very sweet liquid . There was no detectable alcohol when it was first opened but the stuff which was left in the bottle continued to ferment to I guess about 6% after a week or so . Very drinkable . Definitely worth a try this autumn .
I believe you can do the same thing with elder flowers ?
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wayland
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I like the traditional Sloe Gin myself  . I brought some blueberry cordial last fall off a market stall. This was very good and with no added sugar was quite dry. I would think the fruit was pressed and then reduced in some way as it was quite thick. Any thoughts? 
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bref
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elderflower cordial/fizzy 'champagne stuffI followed HFW's direction for the ederflower cordial. It certainly was drinkable but then I used this cordial as a base for the fizzy stuff and it was really very nice. I used 1 measure of the cordial to about 3 of water. I was lucky enough to have fancy french lemonade bottles with the flip top lid. Stuck it in the the back of a cupboard in the kitchen and forgot about it for 5-6 weeks. When I opened there was a very satisfying pop and it tasted pretty damn good. Soooo, easy. Only thing I will do different this autumn is make a whole lot more and may be rack the cordial off before starting the fizzy stuff as there was a little bit of sediment in the bottle that didnt look too appealing.
And wild horses wont stop me from trying the one with the sloes...
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