Elderflower concoctions!

[Hilary B]

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

Yes.....
Most (but not all) elder trees are in hedgerows, and even trimmed to hedge size (unless it is attacked with the roadside hedge-mangler) it will still produce SOME flowers,

[MrsC]

Hi all

Well I have been firmly roostes (pardon the pun) in the Rule the Roost section of GYO. Time to venture out again and I am going to make some elderflower champagne and maybe some wine

[Jeanied]

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?

Some people start the fermentation in the bucket to get it all going then let it continue in the bottle. It will all depend on your recipe. Some use the wild yeasts present on the blooms - with some wine vinegar added - others (and HFW did this) use wine yeast to get things moving along.

[Alison]

Yes.....
Most (but not all) elder trees are in hedgerows, and even trimmed to hedge size (unless it is attacked with the roadside hedge-mangler) it will still produce SOME flowers,

It does depend on the area, most of the ones near us seem to be individual trees - just noticed one across the road from us (must have been there for years but I've never noticed before) so will be picking some flowers from that in a week or so when they're fully out.

[ohbeary]

Far too relaxed really but here goes, 6 large heads of sweet smelling elderflower, 1ltr white grape juice, 1lb 8oz sugar, juice of 1 lemon, 1 tsp yeast nutrient, 1 sachet champagne yeast, water to 4.5ltr, ferment in bucket for 5 days, strain into demijohn, fit airlock and ferment to clear, siphon into clean jars, when bubbles stop siphon again and bottle adding 1/2 tsp sugar to each bottle, use cider/perry/champagne bottles and keep in a dark cool(not cold)place for 6 months, chill well before opening.

[Jelliebabe]

Elderflower Champage - underway
Rhubarb Schnapps - on the go
Limoncello - started......

Alchie-Frolic MOI ?!?!?!? How very dare you....

....Hic

[Madmac]

:

Finally realised my mistake last year.

Giant cow parsley can be easily mistaken for elderflower, especially if you didn't know what it smelled like.

[ohbeary]

oops!, I have noticed that cowparsley and elder tend to grow together and flower at the same time, elder above the waist cowparsley below, easy rule of thumb mostly you have to reach up for elderflower, if you are reaching down think again

[Hilary B]

Round here the elder mostly grows on definite bushes (or even trees) so mistaking cow parsley (or, heaven forbid, hogweed) for it is improbable. I probably have an unfair advatage ahving grown up with a massive elder tree at the end of the garden (no, my parents didn't know, or think, about using it for anything, I didn't find that out until MUCH later, but I got to know what elder looks like, and smells like!)

[rogesse]

Just a quick note of appreciation - I'm not having the best success with elderflower fizz at the moment so thought I'd try MrsIronside's cordial recipe. It's had 48 hours in the fridge and smells/tastes fantastic - the cucumber really does give it something - cheers!

[abby]

How do you know when to bottle as I have a batch on the go at the mo?. should I leave for longer than 2 weeks will it make a better brew or is it best to stick to two week. First timer at this fizz lark info please....

[ohbeary]

Abby see post 50, bottle when clear, hydrometer should read @ 0.990