Raising a glass to annual sloe gin contest

It’s serious business deciding between the many entries in the annual Shireoaks Sloe Gin Competition. But someone has to do it.
Sloe gin judges Maxine Seeley, Peter Bainbridge and Coun Sybil Feilding taste entries at the 2013 Shireoaks Sloe Gin CompetitionSloe gin judges Maxine Seeley, Peter Bainbridge and Coun Sybil Feilding taste entries at the 2013 Shireoaks Sloe Gin Competition
Sloe gin judges Maxine Seeley, Peter Bainbridge and Coun Sybil Feilding taste entries at the 2013 Shireoaks Sloe Gin Competition

A panel of judges sipped, swirled and sniffed their way through this year’s submissions to choose a worthy winner.

The panel comprised Coun Sybil Fielding, Peter Bainbridge and Maxine Seeley.

Rachel Barrowcliffe, who organised the event at the Shireoaks Sports and Social Club, said: “All entries are blind tasted by the judges and they come to a joint decision of who is the best entry in each category.

The Shireoaks Club hosted their annual Sloe Gin competition on Wednesday, preparing the entries was event co-ordinator Rachel BarrowcliffeThe Shireoaks Club hosted their annual Sloe Gin competition on Wednesday, preparing the entries was event co-ordinator Rachel Barrowcliffe
The Shireoaks Club hosted their annual Sloe Gin competition on Wednesday, preparing the entries was event co-ordinator Rachel Barrowcliffe

Afterwards everyone is able to sample the entries to see which is their personal favourite.

“We had a wide range of entries in the ‘any other spirit based tipple’ category, including blackberry whiskey, elderberry liquor, raspberry gin, damson gin and elderflower gin.”

Carol Walker won category one: sloe gin 2012, category two: vintage sloe gin was won by Ada Mee, and category three: any other spirit based tipple was also won by Carol Walker with her elderflower gin.

Winners received a certificate and a cash prize.

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