Used to make it years ago but not found sloes since we moved house alas. Eventually I resorted to slitting them with kitchen scissors, just enough to pierce, found it quicker.
We always used a pound of sloes and only 4 ounces of sugar to each bottle of gin but everyone uses their own preferred quantities.
Don’t forget to swathe yourself in apron or other protection, I learned the hard way that sloe juice is hard to remove.
Scottish political mess. Is Devolution working?