Allotments 4 All
Produce => Drink .... => Topic started by: mummybunny on February 22, 2010, 12:57:12
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Hi,
I'm planning on making some this year. It will be the first time i have tried anything like this so thought i would try something simple !!!. I have found a few recipes online but was wondering if anyone has a tried and tested recipe on A4A.
Also what bottles to use some say plastic some say glass. If it is glass where would you recommend getting them from.
Thanks Lucy x
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I saw some filp top stopper glass bottles in ikea do you think they will work? They are 1.99 a bottle but are a fair size?
Lucy x
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MB
I am planning to try Elderflower champers for the first time this year - all the websites I have read are categorical on one point - DO NOT use glass bottles.
Apparently the EF's can get a bit exuberant during fermentation and from those that know, cleaning upexploded sticky half fermented booze is not a nice job, particularly if the explosion happens in the cupboard under the stairs :o :o
Recyle 2 litre plastic bottles - not as pretty but a lot less work...
Do you fancy having a virtual tasting session later in the year??
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Hi MB
I agree with SMP you are best using 2litre lemonade bottles for elderflower champagne as they should be designed to cope with the gas, I have not made it but have read it numerous times. I am always full of good intentions and save the bottles but actually miss the chance to do it as I am always so busy at the right time......hopefully this year, fingers crossed!
T.
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I saw some filp top stopper glass bottles in ikea do you think they will work?
We tried those but with mixed success. On some the washer does not fit tightly enough so allowing the champagne to develop a dry flavour and not so violently sparkling! We have broken them on opening although I think that was one bottle of nettle ale and one of elderflower. Discharging the gas by judicious use of the thumb seems to be the key when opening although none has burst in storage.
OC
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My mother has a good recipe but is away spending my inheritance but will post when she is back .Virtual tasting sounds good,can I join in?
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The more the merrier ;D ;D
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Thanks all ;D
I will start collecting the lemonade bottles in preparation ;D virtual tasting session sounds like a great idea ;D
Looking forward to it already ;D
Lucy x
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Mother back so hope to post recipe at the weekend,I know it is early but I really do want to make the effort this year - bit like the
Beaujolais Nouveau run.
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I have made the wine several times and the champagne is just another step on from the straightforward wine. I believe it is a combination of yeast and sugar and then leave it to its doing!
I would suppest second hand champagne/cava bottles you can buy the corks and cages from winemaking shops.
I used ex plastic milk bottles but they weren't completely airtight.
I didn't make any last year but intend to this year. I prefer the wine and then you can add lemonade for a fizzy drink!
Good luck - look forward to the virtual tasting!
O B
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Yummmmmmmy. I love it...
Also if you make a little Elderberry syrup that is delic' on strawberry's
or some flowers in strawberry jam when you make it...... qahtan
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only got 1 bottle left of our elderflower cordial, can't wait for the flowering, it's lasted all year in the freezer ;D
don't do alcohol too much so this, mixed with ice and sparkling water is brill
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I make this, if you use fresh elderflowers you don't need to add yeast as the have their own. I can give you the recipe if you still need it, the only thing that i would add is that you need to drink it within a about a fortnight as it becomes too gasy/explosive ;D
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Hi,
I would love to see your recipe there is quite a few variations ;D I have had an idea of something else you could use to bottle up into. Water carriers the type you use when camping with the tap at the bottom. I'm thinking plastic wine box ;D
You would be able to burp the bottle when needed it holds more so no need to collect lots of bottles and they collapse flat so doesn't take up much room!
what do you think?
Lucy
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This is the recipe I shall use-
2 Heads of elderflower
1 1/2 lb White sugar
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1 Gallon of water
1 Lemon
Pick heads when in full bloom place in a large container along with lemon juice and rind -sugar and vinegar
add cold water and leave for 24 hours,strain and bottle( see above )
Should be ready in two weeks.
Do you think time of day that elderflowers are picked might make a difference to taste? Maybe two batches are in order!
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Ohhhhh I'll join in here if that's OK.
I fully intended to do it last year. There was a ready supply of Elderflowers outside my front door for ages, but by the time I got my backside in gear, they'd all died >:(
I'm going to try HFW's recipe. It looked easy enough hen he did it on River Cottage.
Can you really only keep it for 2 weeks? I was hoping to make enough to last through the summer?
SK x
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mmmm all sounds yummy, can't wait to hear how you all get on :)
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Can you really only keep it for 2 weeks? I was hoping to make enough to last through the summer?
SK x
Will be doing elderflower champange this year for the first time
I dont see why only two weeks as long as you keep it cold and off some gas every now and then should be ok, (I do this with ginger beer keeps for ages)
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We did the no yeast recipe & always used screw top beer flagons. No problem until No1 Son decided to add yeast to one brew!
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The elderflowers are starting to bloom, I think they will be just right by Saturday - let the champagne brewing begin......... ;D
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Plastic bottle come in several qualities. Coca cola ones are much thicker best for bottle cloches, I am not sure that some of the thinner ones are suitable for highly fizzy things.
Do be careful opening very fizzy bottles so that the cap does not fire off into your eye. Commercial bottles now have a mechanism to prevent this.
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We went for a walk on Sunday and i managed to find just enough to make my first batch of elderflower cordial yyyyyuuuuuuummmm oh and i heard my first cuckoo yesterday spring must be here ;D
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I saw some elderflower this evening and was thinking about this on the dog walk.
Did anyone see Alys on her programme make some?
Was it 35 heads to twelve litres?And how much sugar?
I have recorded this so must search it out.
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I just used the river cottage recipe about 12 heads and 700g sugar 4 lemons & champange yeast to about 8 litres
Will know in about a week how it came out ;D
Ive also so made cordial for the kids which came out ok, and have an elderflower wine bubbling away.
I plan to go out again in the next week to get some more ;)
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I have made my first batch of elderflower champagne and just bottled it. The only thing I think I have done wrong is put in the pith of the lemon to make it more cloudy and bitter. It taste fab before bottling it and the fizz is already building up nicely and I am relieving the pressure when built up and more and more sediment is fizzng off each time. The only thing that is bothering me is there is a slight smell of egg in the gas when I open it. :-\ Is this just methane mixed in with the co2 from the fermentation of the natural yeasts and sugar?? It is worrying me as I have my next batch in (minus the pith of the lemon and dont want to find i am doing something wrong and it all be useless. Any tips help or advice would be appreciated. many thanks,
Bobbie
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I have made my first batch of elderflower champagne and just bottled it. The only thing I think I have done wrong is put in the pith of the lemon to make it more cloudy and bitter. It taste fab before bottling it and the fizz is already building up nicely and I am relieving the pressure when built up. the only thing that is bothering me is there is a slight smell of egg in the gas when I open it. Is this just methane mixed in with the co2 from the fermentation of the natural yeasts and sugar?? It is worrying me as I have my next batch in (minus the pith of the lemon and dont want to find i am doing something wrong. any help or advice would be appreciated. many thanks,
Bobbie
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I thought i share this tip picked up from another forum, If its already hear apologies.
place elderflower heads in a black bag leaving in plenty of air in the black sack and leave for 24hrs and just give them a shake the flowers will just fall off.
I tried this although i left them for about 3 days it works a treat ;D
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Just bottled 2 gallons,fingers crossed!
Are going for a tasting late summer?
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I seem to be making elderflower champagne by mistake: I've made lots of cordial (most of it now in freezer) and also keep a 2 litre plastc milkbottle of diluted cordial in the fridge.
The sides are bulging, it fizzes slightly when I open it, yeast is visible at the bottom, and it tastes rather nice.
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I seem to be making elderflower champagne by mistake: I've made lots of cordial (most of it now in freezer) and also keep a 2 litre plastc milkbottle of diluted cordial in the fridge.
The sides are bulging, it fizzes slightly when I open it, yeast is visible at the bottom, and it tastes rather nice.
Sounds like it to me, well done and enjoy ;D, I would say that you should maybe place it in fizzy pop bottles as they cope better with gas expansion or drink it quickly ;)
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I have made this for the first time this year. i bottled it just over a week ago. Should it become clear, and if so how long does it take? I used the HFW recipe.
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Mine is the same colour as cloudy lemonade and was ready to drink in two weeks.