Home made sloe gin: how old is too old?

[LooneyTunes]

Much to my surprise, I’ve just found a seemingly unopened jar of sloe gin from 2018 at the back of the pantry. It has never been decanted off the sloes.

Hard to see how there would be any ill effects from a bit of extended ageing, but at what point would people say it was too old to consume?

[sgrimshaw]

It's flavour may be rather intense, but unless the sloes have rotted (shouldn't have given they've been in alcohol) it should be OK.

Only one way to find out ... decant it, smell it and if OK, taste it

[ferret50]

Get it down yer neck!



But if it kills you, do let us all know.....

[majordad]

That’s no age at all !

[Mr Penguin]

I had one like that recently, but from 2020. It was the best sloe gin I've ever tasted.

[dhutch]

I'd give it a go! Loverly stuff, as is Damson Gin.

[DS129]

Careful decant, bottle and enjoy by a nice fire, it will be fine.

[Silvanus]

Filter decant and enjoy. I found a kilner jar of blackberry whisky my grandad had made that was over 20 years old. Filtered it through coffee filter paper and bottled it. I drank it far to quickly, it was amazing

[HotJambalaya]

im actually in exactly the same position, good to know. In fact, I think mine is going on 8 years old now, had a look the other day, the sloe's seem a touch bitty. Quite like that coffee filter paper idea.

[Silvanus]

HotJambalaya said:

im actually in exactly the same position, good to know. In fact, I think mine is going on 8 years old now, had a look the other day, the sloe's seem a touch bitty. Quite like that coffee filter paper idea.

I make a lot of foraged drinks, filter paper is great stuff for finishing the drinks off. I'm actually sat here with a glass of bird cherry brandy.

[LooneyTunes]

Sounds like a job for the weekend then.

Can probably find an empty bottle to decant into and already have a decanting funnel with a fine mesh insert (tend to find that, with Port at least, these work better than filter paper).

[Barchettaman]

It seemed better to revive this thread than start a new one.

Anyway, we have a sloe gin, sloe Christmas vodka (with cinnamon, vanilla, clove, bitter almonds etc) a red fruit vodka and limoncello ready for the end of year festivities.