Elderberry Gin

[PeacockSpringy]

Has anyone ever made elderberry gin? I initially googled for a recipe and found a really simple one, just adding the washed berries to some gin, leaving it for several months and then filtering out the berries. But….. now I’ve read that the berries are toxic and you should cook them first? There’s a lot of conflicting advice online so just wondering if anyone’s made it before and how they’ve done it? Thanks 😊

I made elderberry gin. I don’t recall any issue with toxicity, but I did freeze the berries to break the skins before putting them in export strength gin with sugar and a couple of almonds per bottle.

@LoserWinner thank you for replying. Have you tried the gin? Was it ok? No ill effects? :)

I always thought it was the flowers that are used to infuse the flavour into drinks such as cordials and gins, but google tells me otherwise. I can't help with the gin I'm afraid but maybe a bump to someone that can.

Last year I did attempt a pink champagne recipe using pink elderflowers, water, sugar and lemon etc. Followed the instructions, sterilised bottles etc but it ended up with a grey/brown scum. To avoid the risk of botulism, I threw it all out.

I don’t think you get botulism from flowers, more from things in contact with the earth but I agree it doesn’t sound very appealing 🙁.

Oh, I drank plenty. The only ill effect was a cracking hangover.

Brilliant! 🤣

I make bramble whisky and bramble vodka. I was going to try elderberries but like you I read about toxicity and thought I'd leave them for the birds.

Google AI says this: “Macerating and steeping ripe berries in high-proof alcohol like gin neutralizes harmful glycosides and lectins, especially if the fruit is briefly heated or fermented during the recipe preparation.” Whilst I’m inclined to doubt anything Google AI says, my own experience suggests it may be correct on this point. I also made elderberry port, which is to die for, but you actually ferment the berries for that.