Can you make elderflower gin?

[ProfYaffle]

I've made sloe gin.

i've made elderflower cordial.

I can imagine a gin/elderflower liquer would be nice, but would it work? Have googled but can't find any recipies, I'm thinking of basically doing the elderflower cordial recipe but replacing the water with gin.

Good idea? Or waste of gin??

Look here this page

Have only made damson gin myself, which was yummmmmmmy!

Wow, thank you, that's perfect . My google skills are clearly 2nd rate.

I got the bug with sloe gin and brandy last year, I've now got raspberry vodka on the go and am eagerly anticipating this year's blackberries ......

Right then, where's my foraging hat?

Oooohh, raspberry vodka - sounds gorgeous. I've still got some of last autumn's blackberries in the freezer - you've got me thinking now!!!!!!

I found this recipe for elderflower champagne on someone's blog, and emailed it to myself, but haven't tried it:

Pick nice young flower heads, where the flowers have not yet started to drop petals or turn brown. Don't leave them sitting around for hours, or the smell will change and your poor cat will be thrown out into the garden, accused of incontinence. You'll get pollen on you, but don't worry. It doesn't stain. Boil a gallon (4.5 litres) of water in a large pan and leave it to cool, then throw in the elderflower heads (having shaken any bugs off them first) and a couple of sliced lemons. Put the lid on, and leave it for a 24 to 36 hours before straining it through a clean cloth or a sieve (if you don't mind a few petals - I don't). Add one and a half pounds (750g) of sugar and two tablespoons of cider vinegar, and stir until all the sugar has dissolved. Pour into bottles that will stand pressure - champagne bottles if you're posh, but to be honest I prefer lemonade bottles.

You're finished with the messy stuff now. Put the tops on to keep fruit flies out, but don't screw them on tight yet because the wild yeasts on the flowers go to work on the sugar - just stand the bottles in a corner and keep an eye on them until they don't seem to be fizzing any more - 7 to 14 days depending on the weather. Then screw the lids down, and put them somewhere without expensive carpet (in case they, you know. Explode). Give them another week or two to generate enough gas to carbonate themselves, and you're set - just refrigerate the bottle before you need it, and serve over ice with lemon. The drink is light and green floral, sort of like lemonade but with a beautiful flowery kick to it. Oh, and just a bit alcoholic. Try it once, and I defy you not to make it every year.

I never knew elderflower champagne was so simple, I thought it was home brew territory, ie complex and faffy. Hmm, might have to give it a go now. I do believe you people are trying to get me drunk (should be really)

Actually you lot might know about this - about 10 years ago, just before we moved to this house, I started making some sloe gin. And brought it with me to this house unstrained, iyswim. And I think it's still in the cupboard (I know - it's the cupboard under the stairs, and it's right at the back). Do you think it's just all going to be a huge heap of mould? I'm a bit frightened to open it.

I've no personal experience but try checking out www.sloe.biz/ they really know thier stuff. iirc leaving the sloes in the gin will impair the taste, once they're out it will keep for 10 years or more.

Thanks Prof - will check it out. Seems a shame, but my own fault.

found this knew I'd read it somewhere.

THank you ProfYaffle - that's really helpful. What a fab site. It's inspiring me to want to give it another try. Not sure where to find any sloes though around here.

You'll have a hard time finding elderflowers now though. You might be able to do an elderberry gin if you're quick.

I have developed an Elderflower Gin which works very well...

Elderflower Gin.

Note: 5 bottles makes 6.
This should all fit in a 1 gallon Demijohn ? (or a clean bucket).

About 20 large, fully open Elderflower heads.
5 Large lemons
2lb sugar
5 bottles value gin.

Remove the flowers from the heads ? try not to include green stalks.
Take the zest & juice from the lemons and add to the sugar.
Add the Elderflowers.
Add 4 bottles of gin (you can't stir it in a demijon otherwise).

Keep stirring the contents at odd intervals until the sugar has dissolved.
Add the 5th bottle of gin.
Mix again.

Leave until about 24 hours has passed.
Filter through and old towel or thick cloth.
Bottle and seal.

Good on its own or with clear, sweet apple juice up to about a 1:6 ratio dependent on your taste.

I also have recipes for a number of spirit-based liquers and have made some with raspberry, blackberry, rosehip, sloes, plums, currants and so on.
The elderflower gin is my own recipe, however. ENJOY!

mmm, that sounds lovely! Will definatly give it a go next year thank you!