sloe gin

I have used kilner jars in the past, but I normally use an old wine bottle.  I put about a inch and a half of sugar in the bottle.  Then I fill the rest of the bottle 2/3 up to the top with sloe berries.  Then I fill with gin.  Easy peasy.  Also I have made strawberry vodka this way and raspberry vodka.  Tastes devine.

Thanks for replies, strawberry  vodka sounds lovely. Good tip about cheese grater. I thought  freezing sloes would do away with pricking them, so will bear grater in mind.

[Freezing Sloes does do away with pricking them as the skin breaks. I have never done it any other way. I make about 20-30 bottles every year. Look for a recipe and half the sugar content. You can always add more later.

Yes that is quite right!!! I use a large kilner jar as it is easier to get he fruit out again than from a bottle, for me. We like ours quite sweet, but not as sweet as my mother's old recipe, which was 12oz of sugar to a 70cc bottle of gin 

I have halved this and it is still pretty sweet

No need to even freeze sloes , as with most skins sloe skin is permeable and will lose water (and flavour) to alcohol through osmosis .

The main downside to freezing is the skin often ruptures  allowing the flesh into the gin which then needs more filtering .

Yes that is true, but I don't mind. I use the jelly bag inside a funnel, which is quite quick

does it mater what type of gin i use?

Depends how refined your palate is !

In my case the cheaper the better !

does it mater what type of gin i use?

Yes it should be cheap gin. Virtually everyone uses cheap gin. I used expensive gin once it was not good no where as good as Aldi for instance.