October is Apple Month

October is Apple Month

APPLES are the snack of choice right now in the Sloemotion Distillery office – a perfect and healthy mid afternoon snack  - local ones, garden windfalls and of course Joff’s favourite Cox’s Orange Pippins. In fact, when once asked what his Desert Island Food would be, it was an apple of that variety, think he’d better get out more!

The UK’s apple selection is large and more varied than we thought – there once were over 2,000 UK varieties, we have the Victorians to thank for many of those; all that pottering around in large glasshouses. There are only 12 varieties now commonly known with unusually fancy names like Howgate Wonder, Worcester Pearmain and Discovery being some of the best to grow in your garden.

Crabapples, also known as wild apples, are one of the 6 hedgerow botanicals used in the distillation of our Hedgerow Gins – they add a sharp apple tanginess to the gins.

Our perfect garnish to a Hedgerow G&T is a slice of English apple and a small sprig of thyme. Of course, you could also try our wonderful Hedgerow Gin with Blackberry & Apple, a classic autumnal tipple.

For an early morning lift try this Apple Compote and pair with porridge – tasty, healthy and good for the soul on these chilly mornings.

STEWED APPLE COMPOTE:

SERVES 10 PORTIONS

INGREDIENTS

2kg Bramley apples, peeled, cored and chopped into 3cm dice
100ml of water
1 cinnamon stick
5 cloves
1 strip lemon zest
Juice of half a lemon
2-3 tbsp golden caster sugar, to suit your taste

METHOD

• Place the Bramley apples, water, cinnamon, cloves, lemon zest and juice into a snug fitting pan
• Cook on a medium heat with the lid on – the apples will begin to collapse and go fluffy
• Beat with a wooden spoon until the apples become a puree
• Now add the caster sugar, until the compote is as sweet or as sharp as you like