Picking sloes

Today was a perfect autum day here in Sweden, I went for a walk and found these sloes, or Slånbär in Swedish. They are also called Prunus spinosa, and yes they they have very sharp spines. So you have to take care picking them.

Later I used them for making a liqueur, that will be ready for Christmas. I put them in a jar filled with Absolut vodka. It should have been Gin, but I prefer vodka. After at least 2-3 month i will take the berries out and add sugar.

Look here if you want to see the bushes of Prunus spinosa before the berries:
http://agnetanisbeth.blogspot.se/2012/05/prunus-spinosa.html

Prunus Spinosa

This is a Prunus Spinosa, also called Blackthorn or Sloe, in Swedish we call it slånbär. So this is a slånbärsbuske in full bloom.

In the autumn I use the berries to make a really good bitter-sweet liqueur. I collect them after they had their first frost-bite. Then i pinch them with a needle and put them in a yar with alcohol. After some weeks i add sugar - mixed with some water.