[Cazzy]

I'm thinking of trying this for the first time this year.

Have any of you made this?

[tiptopchickendon]

Yes

And very nice it is too 

Used the recipe on Hugh Whisis-hisname from River Cottage, which was on C4 website. IIRC

Put the results into 2l coke bottles and put them in the fridge in the garage to chill, usually open the first batch in August for my Son's birthday...

[prakash_mib]

I would certainly want to prepare this year. But i have problems
1. I dont know where to spot elder flower, and to make sure that is elderflower
2. the recipe (can get it here or by googling)
have the elder flowers appeared already?

[ex-cavator]

I have very fond memories of elderflower champagne. When I was a lad, a few decades ago, my Dad made some from a recipe he found in a very old book. It was beautifully refreshing to drink, but somehow, a few bottles got misplaced, and when tidying up the garage a year or three later, we found four bottles of the stuff secreted away below a pile of junk. They were in old brown cider bottles with the vulcanite screw tops.

The first three we tried to pick up, the bottoms had cracked around with the pressure buildup inside (surprised they hadn't actually exploded  :blink: ) and as soon as we picked them up the bottoms fell out and we lost the lot. The fourth one we were prepared for, and picked it up carefully from the bottom, and safely got it to the garde where we sat in the glorious hot sunshine and imbibed the sweet - and seriously strong - nectar. Not bad at all for something that was SUPPOSED to be non alcoholic  (and me being such an innocent child - whatever were my parents thinking?  ).

But what I always remember with a smile, was how those poor wasps that wandered into the empty glasses to drink the dregs were just totally incapable of flight by the time they had taken their fill - classic 

[dig4victory]

We used Hugh's recipe last year and will again this year.  We found that if left it gets stronger and stronger but by Christmas it had just pipped past the point of being good to drink.

This year will make sure it's all gone by halloween! 

[agingchick]

The elder flowers have not quite flowered yet. I have a tree hanging over my fence from next doors I made cordial last year and will have a go at champagne this year.
Diane

[Cazzy]

Hugh's recipe it is then.

Prakash_mib, I have only ever picked elderberries and wish i'd marked the trees now.  I have a fair idea of what the flowers look like but as you say, its making sure that it is the right thing.  Google images should help.

The flowers haven't bloomed just yet up here but shouldn't be long.  Here is the recipe

http://www.channel4.com/food/recipes/chefs/hugh-fearnley-whittingstall/elderflower-champagne-recipe_p_1.html

ex-cavator, thats a brilliant story 

dig4victory, Its a shame it doesn't last till Christmas, I wonder if the flower heads could be frozen for a while.

Thanks for all the input.

[maverick]

I also made this last year and it was fantastic. One thing that I would stress is that it is very lively and I wouldn't risk putting it into glass bottles personally. I put it into sterilised 2ltr coke / lemonade bottles and unscrewed the tops slightly a few times a week to keep the pressure down a bit, otherwise when you open it, it will overflow the bottle.

I tried to rely on the natural yeast of the flower but had to put a small pinch of brewers yeast in after a few days to get it going.

I will be making a bigger batch this year - it was that good 

[8doubles]

Top Tip,
If you use plastic bottles when you release the pressure during fermentation the sediment will rise to the neck of the bottle, give the bottle a squeeze and it will overflow out and you can top up from another bottle.
This gives a cleaner wine when you tighten the cap for the final time.

Got a glass of last years elderflower champagne here now, very nice it is too.

Ps sugar 75p a kilo at Iceland , have you found cheaper ?

[Cazzy]

8Doubles, my Mum managed to get sugar from Farmfoods at 50 odd pence, now it may well have been 59p but still a great buy.  She picked me up a couple of kilos for jam but I'll not mention champagne is first on the list 

I was going to use grolsh bottles, would you advise against that? 

[8doubles]

Hi Cazzy.
One of the main problems with elderflower champagne is too much fizz, if you use grolsh flip top bottles most of it will hit the ceiling when you open it. Plastic screw top bottles can be opened slooowly and you get to drink 90% rather than 30%.

The farmfoods sugar sounds a good buy, i will stock up if i`m near one.

[Cazzy]

Then plastic it is.

Thanks 

[lmpd]

oh no.....i've got 2 crates of grolsch bottles, which i've been drinking with a view to the wife filling with elderflower champers

[8doubles]

oh no.....i've got 2 crates of grolsch bottles, which i've been drinking with a view to the wife filling with elderflower champers

No point in drinking any more grolsch then.

Lemonade for you.

[lmpd]

dont get me wrong...........i dont mind