I make this Sloe Gin every year and give out as Xmas presents. Thought I'd share how to do it.
Basic recipe is: 400g Sloes, 150g White Sugar, 500ml Gin.
Step 1 - find a sloe bush. They're basically really sour little plums. You could buy them from Ebay if you wanted. Think they even ship to USofA
http://i.imgur.com/zM5FR.jpg
Step 2 - take your cleaned sloes, sugar and London Dry Gin. Then prick each sloe and add 400gish to an empty bottle. Add 150g sugar.
http://i.imgur.com/zWqcPl.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/h2DrLl.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/lITnYl.jpg
Step 4 - Top up with gin.
http://i.imgur.com/33SA8l.jpg
Step 5: Repeat until you have loads...
http://i.imgur.com/PnDY5l.jpg
Step 5: For 1st week give a little shake everyday. Then store in a dark place. Then leave for at least 2 months. After that drain through muslin into clean bottles, keeping the gin soaked sloes.
http://i.imgur.com/kwUeRl.jpg
You have homemade sloe gin. Drink neat or with ice, lime and tonic.
And with the left over gin soaked sloes.....put into a large container, add a bit of sugar, then top up with cider. Leave for a month or so. You now have some Loony Juice.
(ps that ain't my finished (last pic) sloe gin. I haven't finished mine yet this year - but my labels are better than that anyway!)

