Sloe gin makers gathered at the popular Waterworks Micropub for the Rye News annual homemade sloe gin competition, which was back after two years.
Ten sloe gins were entered for judging by a panel of four judges, though the number of entries was down due to people drinking their gin during lockdown and at Christmas.
The three judged to be the best were entered by Neil, a local of the Waterworks, Libby, one of the judges (the judges did not know who brewed the gin they were tasting) and the eventual winners, Dick & Carol Pankurst of Hastings who play in the Rye Crib League.
Comments from the judges included that some were not sweet, with one being cloudy and tasting sharp. One was spicy, was this the gin that set off the fire alarm during the judging? The blackthorn is out in full blossom and we’ll see if there is a good crop of sloes this year. We thank the four judges Libby Lawson, Lesley Trainor, Peter Collick and John Minter.
Image Credits: Chris Lawson .