foraging tips please

[jillR]

hi peeps

 

I bet there are some foragers and brewers among you lot

 

I have some mirabelles in the freezer that are waiting for my personal petting and patting 

 

ive not dealt with mirabelles before.

 

 

the question is ...... gin or vodka ?  add vanilla ? and how much sugar ?

 

and any other does and donts ?

 

ive done the sloes and it already tastes like rocket fuel :  and hopefully will be ready

 

for Christmas pressies

 

 

[jillR]

hi dave

 

i like your idea of adding the sugar later ... yes it makes sense. thanks

 

 

I have gone for 1ltr of each with a nice high voltage

 

ive got 1lb of mirabelles for each and a couple of pounds left for my daughter

 

to make jam with.

 

 

i did some sloes with gin, a small amount of vanilla pod and some elderberries.

 

and some with vodka, vanilla and elderberry

 

then read somewhere something about cyanide poison if elderberries aren't

 

boiled first so i panicked and sieved the elderberries out after a week and had

 

a little taste .......... it was brill and a really wonderful colour so i microwaved

 

the elderberries for 2 mins and added them to a new brew for 2 weeks.

[jillR]

 

 

the sloe vodka with vanilla pod and elderberries is 7 weeks old now so

 

I thought I would give it a look see and taste to make sure all is well.

 

yikes its strong

 

I think I will have to include a health warning when I give it out as pressies

 

its a lovely colour.

 

i have only removed the elderberries so far and will leave the sloes and vanilla

 

a while longer.