Ive been out collecting loads of Damsons and I want to make lots of Damson gin    

Where am I likly to find the cheapest gin? Major supermarkets? Aldi/Lidl Cash and carry?

The quality really doesnt matter as all tastes are completely masked by the Damson and sugar.  

So far from online prices i have:

Tesco Value Gin             £9.27/litre
Asda Smartprice Gin      £8.82/litre
Sainsburys Gin Basics   £9.27/litre


EDIT: Please move this to the shiny new Food and Drink forum!

Have a look at the price of vodka too, basically its gin without the flavour.

If you really want cheap take a trip onto the continent and buy in bulk.

TBH though I dont like gin, I prefer neat whisky.

Gin is better with damsons.  Dont pollute it with other stuff either, so far the nicest stuff Ive made (besides sloe gin) is straight damson gin.  I found using gordons instead of supermarket own brand makes it taste *slightly* cleaner, but not enough to justify the price.

Im a whisky man myself too, but flavoured gin is nice once in a while.  More popular with the ladies too  8-)

Anyone care to explain what Damsons are please? Never heard of em!

Quote from: jamieLAnyone care to explain what Damsons are please? Never heard of em!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damson

Makes good gin and jam.  Not so nice to eat on their own though.

I made Damson gin last year, its really tasty.

Id say its a cross between Ribena and Port (with the strength of gin ).

The recipe I use is the 3-2-1 recipe. 3lbs of damsons (each pricked a few times with a pin), 2bls of regular sugar, 1 pint of gin. All goes into a bottle which you turn/shake every day(ish) until all the sugar has disolved.

Then strain the damsons off (wich taste great with icecream) and drink!

Its best left for around a year to get the full flavour but I drank last years batch after about 7 months :-)

It doesnt really need to be left that long.  3 months is fine, you wont get all that much benefit from leaving it longer, since most of the flavour is out of the fruit by then (which means they taste pretty nasty, even with ice cream:()

tried Slo Gin?

wrong season aint it? dont think our sloes are out yet

Ive tried at and love it (sloe gin). I didnt manage to get any last year but i will certainly be on hte look out this year.

Apparently you shouldnt pick them until the first frost (although the may look ready before).

Ive still not made a decison on my gin supplier, im going to check aldi and lidl when i get a chance, and also Booker cash and carry. Dont get paid fof a week and a bit so the damsons are in the freezer til then

Make your Own..
Gin is made from Potatoes aint it?

thats moonshine

Nah its a grain spirit I think, with juniper etc

QuoteGin is a product obtained by original distillation from mash, or by redistillation of distilled spirits, or by mixing neutral spirits, with or over juniper berries and other aromatics, or with or over extracts derived from infusions, percolations, or maceration of such materials, and includes mixtures of gin and neutral spirits. It shall derive its main characteristic flavor from juniper berries and be bottled at not less than 80 deg. proof.

Source

So unless i fancy a bit of distilling from mash(?) or pure alcohol   ill probably stick to a retail gin