Elderflower Champagne anyone?

[Mikey]

Well its that time of year again, when the first brew is up and running. I've got 28 litres of pure loveliness sat in the office smelling delish.

I was reading something about Elderflower last night which I wasn't aware of. When picking the flower, if you pick it in the morning in supposed to smell of bananas and if you leave it until after lunch or early evening like me, it smell of cats wee.

I think maybe I'll try picking the next batch in a week or so first thing and see if this works. If anyone has already tested this theory please let me know if its true.

[veggiechicken]

I sniffed some elderflowers yesterday (afternoon I think) and they smelled really nice - wanted to rub them behind my ears Then wondered whether I had imagined the cats-pee whiff. They're too wet today for anything!
I want to make cordial - any tips?

[Mikey]

I have a recipe for cordial at home which i tried last year but then went on holiday and had to leave it ferment for too long. I think I got it from good housekeeping but I can't remember, I'll dig it out for you this evening. I know it calls for 65g of Citric Acid. Thats next weeks recipe.

If you'd put the scent of bananas behind your ears would it turn to cats wee by the evening? you might get some strange looks from the neighbours and the dogs!!

[Mikey]

I want to make cordial - any tips?

Bucket, sterilising tablets, muslin cloth, lemons, sugar, hot water and citric acid, a dry day, all of this you know. A monkey is handy to shinny up the tree to get the good flowers. Why are they always out of reach!!!

[veggiechicken]

I'm gonna cheat about the monkey bit - and cut an elder down completely once the blossom has finished Note for new readers - the trees are in my garden
I feel a trip to Wilkos coming on

[Mikey]

I bought one of these from Travis Perkins the other day.

Tuff Tub

[daviddevantnhisspiritwife]

I made some cordial the other day using the recipe in Andy Hamilton's book. It did not turn out tart enough for my liking, though the flower fragrance/flavour is great.

Can I ask what recipe you are using for your champagne? I have previously done mine with champagne yeast to get the alcohol vol up to about 11% but it was very dry. Tempted to have another go this year time/weather permitting.

It's pizzling here as well.

[veggiechicken]

I sniffed my elders this morning. On one bush the flowers smell of lemons/citrusy and very appealing. On the other bush, flower head at the same stage of opening, there was a hint of unpleasant. I read somewhere that there is a variation between trees.

[stella]

Two bottles of cordial made taste and smell delish

[Snadger]

I sniffed some elderflowers yesterday (afternoon I think) and they smelled really nice - wanted to rub them behind my ears Then wondered whether I had imagined the cats-pee whiff. They're too wet today for anything!
I want to make cordial - any tips?

.........stay clear of the yellow snow!

I think you get the cat pee taste and aroma if you use too many flower heads. Use the minimum and keep it light and delicate!

[veggiechicken]

I can smell pee on the tree.........and no cat that I know has legs that long

[mrbadexample]

Well its that time of year again, when the first brew is up and running. I've got 28 litres of pure loveliness sat in the office smelling delish.

I was reading something about Elderflower last night which I wasn't aware of. When picking the flower, if you pick it in the morning in supposed to smell of bananas and if you leave it until after lunch or early evening like me, it smell of cats wee.

I think maybe I'll try picking the next batch in a week or so first thing and see if this works. If anyone has already tested this theory please let me know if its true.

Well I wouldn't say no, but you'd have to tell me how to make it first.

Let start with the essentials. How much elderflower do I need and which bits do I pick?

[Alison]

Not bothering with champagne this year although I've always just made it with the natural yeasts on the flowers and it's turned out fab and still needing to be vented regularly for the first week or two - always been too much of a chicken to use glass bottles in case they explode so gone for plastic pop bottles so at least you get a warning. Am going to make some cordial though using the River Cottage recipe which works very well and, so long as I make enough, will last until next years crop comes around.

[AkionTotocha]

I accidentally added my Elderflowers to my water while it was still hot. I would say "Lobster body bath water hot" Even though the water had been sitting for an hour in the pantry - I had assumed it would be cold enough by that point as it was only a gallon of water.

But I don't know what to do since I've almost certainly killed the yeast, but I don't want to throw the elderflower water out. Should I just add some brewing yeast of some kind? I'm assuming not ale/beer yeast.

[snakeshack]

I always add a general purpose wine yeast to 23 litres of water,2.5 kilos of sugar and the juice and zest of six lemons along with 50 elderflower heads.then I rack off after 7 days and leave to ferment out.then bottle in 2 liter pop bottles with 1/2 flat teaspoon of sugar per bottle and leave to prime.If the pressure gets too high the bottles fall over as the bottoms become round and the pressure must be released.
to clear the sediment leave the bottles upside down and twist/rotate 1/2 turn every day keeping neck down until the gunge is in the cap then cover cap with a cloth whilst keeping neck down and very gently open cap a fraction .The pressure will blow the sediment out.Then refrigerate and enjoy.