Ginger sloe gin

Wash 250g (9 oz) ripe sloes and prick each with a skewer. Pack into a 1-litre (4-cup) glass jar, along with 2 fat slices of fresh ginger. Add 125g (4½oz) sugar and 500ml (2 cups) gin. Seal and shake well. Tuck away somewhere dark and shake every day for a week, then forget about it for a couple of months. Strain and decant into a bottle for a sweet, warming liqueur with a plummy taste.