Sloe gin/vodka- hawthorn berry wine

[compostman1]

How can I tell if sloes are ready to pick? They seem to be very early this year and quite small, but there do seem to be a lot of them. Made a small amount of sloe vodka last year and it was gorgeous.
Has anyone ever made or tasted wine made from hawthorn berries? Is it any good or should I leave the berries for the birds?
Cheers
I.

[naz_nomad]

I was always told sloes were best after the first frost, but some people pick them early & freeze them to achieve the same 'thing' ... not much help really, am I? ... lol

[WendyS]

When we made sloe gin in the past we always picked them around late October to allow them to build up as much sugar as possible but it seems that this year they have probably ripened early with the July heatwave. If you've got access to some, pick them and put them in a brown paper bag in the airing cupboard for 2 or 3 days before pricking and soaking in alcohol if you're worried about them being a little unripe.
In our early married days we made wine from many different ingredients. Apart from wines made from fruit, most of them were pretty dreadful and ended up cleaning the toilet U bend ! I'd leave the hawthorn berries for the birds. They probably need them more than you do.

[Kim A]

Sloes are normally best after the first frost, Naz, but this year ours round here seem to have ripened and plumped up really early, so I picked a load a tthe weeked.

Compostman. Pick 'em, stick 'em in abag in the freezer til you're ready to make gin. Stick gin in the freezer as well. Frozen sloes crack when put into frozen gin - no pricking required. Result!

Hawthorn? Hmm. I'm with Wendy. Leave 'em for the birdies.