Last Updated on 21/09/2024 by Adina
Learn how to make elderflower gin - it's incredibly easy! If you love gin, you'll adore this recipe. This homemade elderflower liqueur perfectly captures the flavors of summer.
Make elderflower gin this summer with just four ingredients and loads of flavor! This simple recipe for homemade liqueur is a must-try.
And if you would like a non-alcoholic recipe for elderflower, you could make elderflower syrup, elderflower champagne without alcohol, or just a simple elderflower tea.
Recipe ingredients
Only four ingredients! See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Elderflowers: about 8 large flowers, maybe 10-12 if they are not that large.
Gin: 1 bottle. The brand of your choice; not the most expensive one, but not the cheapest one either. Mine cost about 12 Euros, so a middle-priced brand.
Lemons: preferably organic and unwaxed as they will come in the liquor and soak there for 1 week.
Granulated sugar: 2 tablespoons.
Try more infused gin recipes, such as Black Currant Gin, Gooseberry Gin, or Rhubarb and Ginger Gin.
How to make elderflower gin?
Prepare the elderflowers: Shake them well over the sink to remove any insects that might still be there. Remove the green stems, but keep the very thin ones that hold the flowers.
Prepare the lemon: Wash it thoroughly to remove any wax, if necessary, and slice it thinly before adding it to the jar.
- Image #1: Pour the gin into a large jar or bowl. Add 2-3 tablespoons of granulated sugar and stir until the sugar dissolves completely. Then, add the elderflowers.
- Image #2: Stir everything together with a long wooden spoon and cover the jar.
Allow the gin to infuse: Let the jar sit at room temperature for one week. Stir gently every two days or so. After one week, it should have taken on a yellow color.
Strain the elderflower gin through a fine mesh sieve. Discard the flowers and lemon slices. Strain again through a fine mesh sieve lined with a muslin cloth so that you can leave all the impurities behind.
Store: Pour the elderflower gin into a clean bottle. You can use the original gin bottle, for instance.
How to pick elderflowers?
Elderflowers are cream-colored, fragrant blooms from small hedgerow elder trees, typically picked from June to early July, depending on your location. Choose large, fully opened, and fragrant flowers, ideally on a sunny midday when their scent is strongest.
Snap the flowers just beneath the head where the small stems meet the larger one. Harvest sparingly, as elderberries that form later are valuable for wildlife.
Pick flowers away from roads to keep them clean. Shake off insects in the field and again before use. Avoid washing the flowers, as it diminishes their flavor. If necessary, rinse briefly under cold water. Use the flowers immediately, as they quickly wilt and lose their scent.
How to use the gin?
Drink on the rocks; it is amazing! You can add a lemon slice and mint or balm leaves before serving.
Make cocktails by mixing in different ingredients. For example, you can add tonic water and lemon slices or mix in lime juice and cucumber slices. Another option is to combine it with Prosecco and lemon slices for a refreshing twist.
You can also try this Elderflower Gin Cocktail. Or make Elderflower Jelly if you have more flowers.
Homemade Elderflower Gin
Ingredients
- 12 elderflowers depending on size, Note 1
- 1 bottle gin 700-750 ml/ 23-25 fl.oz
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 organic lemon unwaxed
Instructions
- Shake the elderflowers over the sink to get rid of lingering insects. Set aside.12 elderflowers
- Pour the gin into a large jar or a bowl. Add the sugar and stir well to dissolve.1 bottle gin + 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- Combine: Wash and rub the lemon thoroughly. Slice thinly and add the slices to the gin. Add the flowers as well. Stir gently with a long spoon. Cover. 1 organic lemon
- Let the mixture sit at room temperature for one week. Stir gently every two days or so.
- Strain gin: After one week, the gin should be fully flavored and pale yellow. Strain through a fine-meshed sieve into another bowl. Discard the flowers and the lemon slices. Line the sieve with a clean muslin cloth and sieve the gin again to remove any impurities.
- Pour the gin into a clean bottle; you can use the original gin bottle.
Notes
- Picking elderflowers: Read the blog post for instructions on how to pick elderflowers.
- Gin: Use good quality gin, which is middle-priced. It should not be very expensive, but not the cheapest one either.
Cathy Cameron says
Do you cover it when you mix ingredients and leave for a week?
Adina says
Yes.
Helena says
How long does this last for and what can you add to make it last longer?
Adina says
Hi Helena, it should be fine for quite a long time (some say years or indefinitely), but we never had it for more than 2-3 months. It's actually even better if you leave it in a dark cool place for a few weeks before you start drinking it. Alcohol and sugar preserve well, I've never added anything else.
Kelly says
This recipe seriously knocks the ball out of the park! So so good. I went with a London dry gin and worked so well with it.