There’s nothing quite like harvest season on the farm - the rumble of the harvester, the golden light across the fields, and that satisfying feeling when the first potatoes start rolling in. This year, thanks to the unseasonably dry weather, things are running beautifully. We kicked off with the seed potatoes (the little gems that will be planted to grow next year’s crop), and now we’re onto the main event: the potatoes destined to become Nine Tines potato vodka. Smooth, sustainable, and made just a stone’s throw from where they grow - it all starts here.
But harvest isn’t just about potatoes. While we’ve been out in the fields, we couldn’t help but notice the hedgerows are absolutely dripping with sloes this year. Deep purple, glossy, and begging to be picked. And of course, the first thought that popped into our heads? Sloe vodka season has officially arrived!
So, if you’re tempted to try your hand at a little autumn kitchen project, here’s our favourite recipe – made all the better with Nine Tines, because its silky-smooth finish makes the fruit sing.
Sloe Vodka Recipe
You’ll need:
- 500g sloes (washed and pricked with a fork – a little time-consuming, but worth it)
- 250g golden caster sugar
- 1 bottle of Nine Tines Potato Vodka (70cl)
How to make it:
- Sterilise a big jar (or two smaller ones).
- Pop in the sloes and sugar.
- Pour in your Nine Tines vodka until the berries are covered.
- Seal tightly and give it a good shake.
- Store somewhere cool and dark for about 3 months, giving the jar a little shake every so often.
- When it’s ready, strain into a clean bottle and – voilà – you’ve got yourself a smooth, rich, sweet sloe vodka.
It’s the kind of drink that makes chilly evenings feel cosy, and it also happens to make a rather fabulous gift if you can bear to part with a bottle.
Harvest is always a reminder that nature gives us more than we could ever ask for – potatoes for our vodka, berries for our hedgerows, and plenty of reasons to raise a glass.
Here’s to #Harvesting with Nine Tines.
