Homemade Elderflower Gin

How to make elderflower gin? It couldn’t be easier, actually. If you like gin, you will so love this recipe. Homemade elderflower liquor that captures the summer flavors.

And if you would like a non-alcoholic recipe for elderflower, you could make elderflower syrup.

What do you need?

Only four ingredients!

• 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.

How to pick elderflowers?

• Elderflowers are the flowers of the elder trees, which are small hedgerow trees. The flowers are creamy colored and have an amazing scent.
• You can pick them in June until early July, depending on where you live. (I might be a bit late with this elderflower gin if you live in a warmer place, but you can keep it in mind for next year).
• Pick large, fully opened, and very fragrant when ready to pick.
• It is preferable to pick the flowers on a sunny day at midday, that’s when their scent is strongest.
• Snap the elderflowers underneath the head of the flower where all the small stems meet the large stem.
• Pick only a few flowers from each tree, the berries that develop from the elderflowers can also be used later in autumn and are also important for insects and birds.
• Try to find elder trees growing away from the road, so that the flowers are as clean as they can be.
• Shake the elderflowers well, once in the field where you pick them (so that the insects can stay home) and once before you use the flowers in the sink, to make sure you are rid of all the insects.
• It is preferable not to wash the flowers, they will lose some of their flavor if you do.
• If you have to do it, then give them just a very short rinse under cold running water and shake them well.
• Prepare the elderflower gin (or anything else) immediately, the flowers will go limp and lose their scent very quickly.

How to make?

• Pick the elderflowers as instructed above.
• Shake them well over the sink to remove any insects that might still be in there.
• Remove the green stems of the flowers, only the very thin ones to which the flowers are attached can stay.
• Pour the gin in a large jar or bowl.
• Add 2-3 tablespoons granulated sugar and stir well until the sugar dissolves completely.
• Add the elderflowers.
• Wash and rub the lemon very well to remove any wax (in case they are waxed).
• Slice thinly and add to the jar.
• Stir with a long wooden spoon.
• Cover.
• Let sit at room temperature for 1 week.
• Stir gently every 2 days or so.
• After one week it should have taken on a yellow color.
• Strain 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.
• Pour the gin into a clean bottle. You can use the original gin bottle, for instance.

How to use?

• Drink on the rocks, it is amazing! You can add a lemon slice and mint or balm leaves before serving.
• Make cocktails.
• For instance, you can add tonic water and lemon slices.
• You can add lime juice and cucumber slices.
• Or you can add Prosseco and lemon slices.

More preserved drinks:

Creme de Cassis (Black Currant Liqueur)

Homemade Vanilla Honey Liqueur

Simple Strawberry Syrup

Mint Syrup

Rhubarb Simple Syrup