[HLS]

Has anyone made elderberry gin?  I bought supplies for making raspberry gin and elderberry vodka (having seen some recipes that looked good) but unfortunately got distracted by being handed a glass of wine and accidentally put the vodka in with the raspberries.  Oops.

I presume that the elderberry vodka recipe will work with gin from a practical point of view (i.e. there's enough alcohol to draw the flavours out and to stop it going bad), but will the taste be any good?

[Harry Flashman VC]

Made it last year didn't taste too good although the bottle is sitting in a cupboard.  The recipe said just to add berries to gin I found another one saying mash berries first. 

If I made it again i'd mash the berries first but don't think i'll do it again

[HLS]

What sort of 'not too good'?  Was it too bitter?  The only recipe for elderberry vodka I've seen that didn't have sugar in said to freeze the berries first to make them sweeter.  That's one of the reasons I'm a bit dubious about the gin, as it already has a bitter taste.

[Harry Flashman VC]

No not too bitter plenty of sugar in it.  Just not to my taste although it has been sitting in a cupboard since March.  I'll have a sample of it after the weekend when i've finished my set of shifts. 

If I do make it again i'll mash the berries up not put them in the bottle whole.

[tode]

As someone said recently on another thread, elderberry is a VERY special taste 
Advise you to taste the juice of some of your elderberries before making a lot of anything.

[HLS]

As someone said recently on another thread, elderberry is a VERY special taste 
Advise you to taste the juice of some of your elderberries before making a lot of anything.

Hmm, I'm feeling less enthusiastic now!

[8doubles]

I remember a couple of friends and myself eating elderberries when we were about 10 years old , we were all very ill, spectacularly ill, full technicolour ill.
I think the berries have a high tannin content and even elderberry wine is best left for a couple of years for the tannin to settle out and let the wine mellow then it`s superb.
I haven`t seen elderberry gin/ vodka in any of the old wine books i own which makes me suspicious of its quality.

[tode]

Certain vinyards used to add elderberry juice to their wine, to save money, and also to give some colour and pep to a poor year. (Bordeaux and round Porto).
Neat, it is a bit "aggresive"  , but has a lovely colour.

But give it a try, using very little to start with.

I'm sure it will taste better, the more you drink     

[HLS]

I'm sure it will taste better, the more you drink     

 

Gin does that all by itself, though!

[tode]

Yes, but its not "homemade"