Elderflower concoctions!

[mrsironside]

the cucumber gives it a really nice freshness but is optional - I am presently turning the huge amount of dandelion blossom in the garden into wine today! revenge is sweet!

[mrdinkle]

I made Elderflower champagne last year and used champagne yeast and fermented for longer. This resulted in a stronger* and drier finish.

Turned out very well (people were asking if they could buy it!) Followed River Cottage recipe to an extent, but with the additional fermentation (and bottled in 1 litre PET bottles) before fermentation ceased (5/6 days). Then released gas intermittently as bottles mutated.

* Did not calculate % though could have been up to 12%

[gypsophelia]

elderflower sorbet

[sarraceniac]

I just bought my new buckets (£1 each, so I buy new every year, then use them for other things in the house and garden) for this year's elderflower champagne. We love it with a splash of gin in it (Lady S. says about half and half is right. ) It's the only thing that is as good as G & T.

I remember all the recipes posted last year so if you want one, use TS's famous 'search'. But this year I am going to add a smidgeon of wine yeast and citric acid (the lemons are not enough) because, stand alone, without the gin, we feel it needs a little extra kick. Not going to the extremes of the HFW recipe though.

[dincur]

I've seen some one making it with borage too- lemonade/cordial. You don't really taste it but it gives a cooling sensation.

[northepaul]

Hoping this doesnt sound too dumb...(well anyhow ) how do you tell elders from other hedgerow shrubs? I am thinking either we dont have any elders around here, or I am being completely thick and walking past them.
I did google it, but couldnt find a non scientific answer!

Thanks

[Jeanied]

Elderflower is very distinctive, Thea - and smells just like elderflower cordial - you can't miss it.
http://transitionculture.org/wp-cont...derflower2.jpg

[mattyod]

i gotta plant me one of those,lol do they come in bush variety? i've seen people make elderflower syrup's,

[Jeanied]

Matty they're wild hedgerow trees and they grow fairly tall.

[Alison]

Am quite liking the idea of making some elderflower champagne this year but never done it before. Have a recipe which uses about 6l of water, any idea what size of bucket I need for this, assuming I can't fill it all to the brim Thanks

[Hilary B]

6l is more than a gallon, but not quite a gallong-and-a-half. The commonest size of bucket sold (in hardware shops etc) holds 2 gallons, so plenty big enough.

[northepaul]

Elderflower is very distinctive, Thea - and smells just like elderflower cordial - you can't miss it.
http://transitionculture.org/wp-cont...derflower2.jpg

Thanks Jeanie, I know what the flower looks like, just not the bush/fruit etc so I can recognise it out of season

[Hilary B]

Elder trees are small as trees go, often found in hedgerows, the new-season shoots grow sappy and green about as thick as a thumb, and the leaves look a bit like someone was trying to make rose leaves on the cheap (a multi-leaf thing with one at the end and 2 or 4 others), but they are bigger that usual rose leaves and decidedly sappy.
Best time to spot the bushes is actually autumn, because before the leaves fall they tend to go pale yellow first, and then a purpley colour.
You could go look round a garden centre, because these days they sell a red/black leaved Elder; Sambucus Niger. The biggest difference from the wild ones is the colour of the leaves! (the garden centre one also has pink flowers instead of the normal white ones)

[mrsironside]

Can I ask how the champagne is made in the buckets - last year I made mine in swing top beer bottles due to the pressure during fermentation - is a bucket better? I was considering using a pressure barrel for a larger amount - 5 gallons might be a bit excessive though!!
the buds are still all tightly closed near me in Beds so i have plenty of time to plan my brews!
Could elderflower work in a light hoppy beer mix i wonder?

[Madmac]

Erm! I'm having a blonde moment, do you pick the flowers from the tree or the hedgerow?