Elderflower Liqueur.

Elderflowers were the picture of abundance just a few weeks ago, and it is pretty clear that their final gasp marked the passing of summer's easy start and the arrival of uncompromising, full-on summer herself. It may be an end of the elderflower, but it is the beginning of the elder berry. I must confess, though, that I have yet to use the berries for anything, being too ambivalent in my feelings for their fierce medicinal taste and wicked staining purple dye. I relish the flowers each and every year, though, and am just a little sad to see them brown and dry, because it means that the easy living of early summer, filled with warm promise and golden light, are another year away, again, leaving us with hazy shimmers and white-hot sun.

To celebrate the elderflower, I have cordialed, I have fizzed, and this year I soused as well.

I thought, rather proudly, that I was being quite ingenious dumping a giant handful of tightly packed elderflower blossoms into a bottle and soaking with vodka, in my quest for a do-it-yourself St-Germain liqueur.

Until I saw this - which only confirms my suspicion that there is nothing truly original out there (except maybe molecular gastronomy).

Or perhaps dumping handfuls of flowers into alcohol to concoct a tasty drink based on, and inspired by, local abundance is such a fundamentally good idea that there's no reason to worry about it if other have had, and continue to have, the same good idea.

It won't cool down these fiery temperatures any, but a drink concocted with early summer flowers has got to be refreshing for the soul, making this blazing oven we've suddenly arrived in a little more bearable until early summer comes around again.

Elderflower Liqueur.
Makes about 1 3/4 cups. Feel free to scale up.

You will need a clean pint-sized jar or larger.

1 1/2 cups of elderflower blossoms, forked off.
As much vodka as necessry to cover blossoms and fill your jar (mine was 1 3/4 cups).

Pack the flowers into the jar so they are all in rather compactly, and pour enough vodka into the jar to completely cover the blossoms. Put a lid on and let soak in a cool, dark place for a good 3 or 4 weeks. The vodka will turn sunny yellow during this time.

When you can't wait any longer, strain the vodka. Drink as straight elderflower vodka, if you're hardcore (though it's hard to reconcile being hardcore and drinking flower vodka), or make into a liqueur the low-rent way by adding sugar, shaking to dissolve, and tasting until you like it. Start with 1/4 cup and continue until you reach your sweet threshold or the sugar will no longer dissolve - I got to 1/2 cup and decided it was good.

Serve with tonic water or sparkling water, add a squeeze of lemon or orange,  muddled with some mint and lots of ice, or make a light sangria with white wine and light colorful fruits  - rainier cherries, peaches & white nectarines would be my top choices.

Comments

[leaf (the indolent cook)]

If only I have access to fresh elderflower blossoms! I get my fix with bottled cordial from the shops. I might look into St Germain, too, now that you mention it.

[Ingrid @ Jammy Chicken]

Hi Leaf - thanks for the comment. St. Germain is delicious, but it's also $40 (US) a bottle at the local shop...ouch! The bottle is absolutely beautiful, though, and puts my mason jar to shame. It's well worth it if you can find some!

[Artur]

Nice recipe! I've had St Germain before, and it's like magic dust: makes everything better (especially if there's gin involved). Does this work with dried elderflowers? They're the only ones I can find around here.

[Ingrid @ Jammy Chicken]

Hi Artur - thanks! It's amazing how elderflower can improve almost everything. I like to add a dribble of elderflower cordial to white wine that has past its best (or never was that good). It makes it drinkable again. I think this liqueur should work with dried elderflower but I have never tried. I'd suggest using less dried elderflower than fresh - maybe start with 1/2 or 2/3 cup and see how that works. Since the flowers are dry, they will also soak up more vodka, so your total yield will be less. Let me know how it goes if you give it a try!