The following ideas are taken from 'Booze: River Cottage Handbook No. 12' by John Wright (Bloomsbury, £14.99). Sloe gin To make about a litre, take about 500g washed, ripe sloes, put them in a 1 litre Kilner jar, pour over 250g sugar and about 1 litre of gin (or vodka), close the lid and shake. Store the jar in a dark cupboard, shaking once every day until the sugar has all dissolved. After 3 months – or 6 months or a year – strain out the sloes, using a muslin-lined funnel placed in a bottle. Cork or seal your bottle and store in a dark cupboard. Wait at least a year before drinking… if you can. Recipe by John Wright Picture: John Wright

Credit : John Wright