The fruit, called a “sloe” is a drupe 10 – 12 mm diameter, black with a pale purple-blue waxy bloom, ripening in autumn, and harvested in October or November – usually after the first frosts. The flowers are 1.5 cm diameter, with five slightly creamy-white petals they are produced shortly before the leaves in early spring, and are hermaphroditic and insect-pollinated. The leaves are oval, 2 – 4.5 cm long and 1.2 – 2 cm broad, with a serrated margin.

Sloe foliage, flowers and pollen are eaten by the larvae of Lepidoptera including Emperor Moth, Common Emerald, November Moth, Pale November Moth, Mottled Pug, Green Pug, Brimstone Moth, Feathered Thorn, Brown-tail, Yellow-tail, Short-cloaked Moth, Lesser Yellow Underwing, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Double Square-spot and the Black and Brown Hairstreaks, as well as blister and other beetles.Ī deciduous large shrub or small tree growing to 5 m tall, with blackish bark and dense, stiff, spiny branches. 112-84*3, from seed, is 25 years oldīlackthorn, also called sloe, is native to native to Western Asia: Iran, Turkey, Caucasus: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russian Federation – Ciscaucasia, Dagestan. But you can limit yourself to a year, although the drink will be a bit harsh.Blackthorn bush, Morton Arboretum acc. Empirically, it was found that the optimal aging period is 6 years - the liquor is very balanced and even. Store sloe gin in a dark cabinet, the longer the better. You can try to filter through a piece of muslin, or you can just defend the drink and then carefully drain it from the sediment. It will be cloudy and very difficult to filter due to the slimy flesh of the blackthorn.

After three months, the finished liquor can be drained. Then you can mix less often, once a week. For the first couple of weeks, the infusion should be mixed well daily so that the sugar dissolves completely and draws out the sloe juice faster. Put in a cool dark place to infuse for 3 months. Pour the package of spices into a jar of a suitable volume, add sugar and pour it all with gin.

Download gin made with blackthorn