It seems gin has made quite a comeback over the past couple of years, so we thought we’d treat you to a fun, refreshing and boozy recipe to try at home. Our Elderflower Gin Recipe is fragrant, fresh and easy to make. It’s the perfect drink for a warm summer’s day, topped up with tonic, a slice of lemon and plenty of ice.
As one of the UK’s prettiest native trees, Elder grows and thrives throughout the British Isles. The blossoms and berries can be used in a wide variety of recipes and are especially tasty when infused in drinks such as gin.
How to Make Elderflower Gin
What you’ll need
- Gin (any bottle size — we recommend 500ml)
- 10–20 freshly picked elderflower heads (cleaned, woody stems removed)
- Zest of 1 organic unwaxed lemon
- 4 tbsp caster sugar
- 1 large sterilised jar
We’re lucky that Elder Trees are native to the UK and grow throughout our gardens and countrysides. The best time for harvesting is when the flowers have just started to bloom and are smelling their sweetest. Pick them too late and you may end up with a fragrance closer to cat pee than sweet elder (tragic).
Once you’ve got your blooms, give them a good shake to remove any noticeable insects or debris. Then clean them properly, removing woody stems, leaves and any greenery — these can make the gin taste bitter.
Once that’s done, you’re ready to start infusing.
Method
- Sterilise your glass jar: wash in hot soapy water, rinse, then (while still wet) place on a baking tray in a preheated oven for 15 minutes.
- Pour the gin into the jar, add the caster sugar, seal the lid and shake until the sugar dissolves.
- Reopen the jar and add the elderflower blooms and lemon zest. Aim for flowers only (no stems or green bits).
- Stir well so the flowers are soaked. Any flowers floating above the gin may oxidise and turn brown. This can affect the colour slightly, but not the flavour.
- Seal the jar and store it somewhere cool and dark to infuse. Infuse for 24 hours for a lighter flavour, or up to 7 days for a more intense elderflower hit.
- Give the mixture a gentle stir every couple of days to keep everything soaked and the infusion moving.
- When you’re happy with the flavour, strain the gin through a clean tea towel or muslin cloth into a jug. Discard the elderflower and zest.
- Sterilise a glass bottle (using the same method as above) and decant your elderflower gin into the bottle.
- Serve with tonic, ice and a slice of lemon. Store in a cool dark place — or in the freezer to keep it extra cold.
Not only is this a home project you can enjoy yourself, it also makes a lovely gift for friends and family. That extra minimal effort adds meaning, and a homemade small-batch gin in a nicely labelled bottle always goes down well.
If drinking isn’t your thing and you’d prefer something a little more everyday, you’re going to love our Elderflower Cordial Recipe — a refreshing, non-alcoholic drink that can be enjoyed by the whole family.
Tried one of our recipes? We’d love to see how it turned out. Get in touch on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and tag us in your photos!