Épine Recipe

The French haven't heard of sloe gin, but they make a drink with the spring leaves of the blackthorn (the tree sloes come from) called épine (which is French for thorn - sometimes it is called épine noir or blackthorn as well).

4 liters of cheap red wine

50cl of cheap brandy

3/4 liter of sloe leaves (some people say with twigs and some say without - we went for without)

600g of sugar (more can be added to taste)

Put everything in to a container (we used the 5 liter bottle the wine came in - made sangria with the rest of the wine) and leave for 2 weeks. 

Then strain in to bottles and leave as long as you can. It apparently improves with age.