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Elderflower Champagne... Best Recipe??

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Comments

  • ampersand
    ampersand Posts: 9,694 Forumite
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    Thankyou everyone - yes, shall have to release gas much more often.
    In fact, shall go and do it again now[after last night].
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  • r.a.i.n.b.o.w
    r.a.i.n.b.o.w Posts: 638 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    edited 22 May 2011 at 4:44PM
    I'm trying to bring myself to make elderflower champagne - I've got all the stuff and picked the flowers, but I can't muster up enough enthusiasm to tackle it cos the flowers STINK! They were picked this morning, and while my friend (who picked with me) and my husband have both commented on how lovely and fruity they smell, all I can smell is B.O. and old grass!
    :eek:

    I'm really loathe to waste ingredients and time on this, if all I end up with is alcoholic B.O. & old grass wine....what DOES elderflower champagne taste like? (if you say "elderflowers", then I'm dumping the lot, cos I won't be able to drink this, the flowers are making me nauseous :( )

    What's wrong with me? Why can't I smell the "scent of English Spring"?

    And does the smell improve vastly after fermenting?
  • balmaiden
    balmaiden Posts: 623 Forumite
    To me the flowers smell like tomcat, but rest assured your finished champagne will taste fine. My elderflower champagne reminds me of Liebfraumilch !
    Away with the fairies.... Back soon
  • rockie4
    rockie4 Posts: 1,264 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    It tastes gorgeous! My friend made some for his sons christening and everyone thought it was 'proper' champagne! Well worth it IMHO.
  • heretolearn_2
    heretolearn_2 Posts: 3,565 Forumite
    They are supposed to stink. You are being quite polite, generally they smell like cat pee!

    but elderflower makes a lovely drink. If you are still dubious buy some elderflower cordial from the supermarket - yum, very refreshing.

    Elderflower champagne is also lovely. It varies a lot from batch to batch, sometimes it is fizzier than others, and I've had some come out really thick and gloopy like a syrup once (whoops) but it's always nice, honest! It's never very alcoholic, it's just mildly 'fizzed' more than anything.
    Cash not ash from January 2nd 2011: £2565.:j

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  • song_of_calliope
    song_of_calliope Posts: 482 Forumite
    Make the champagne, you won't regret it. I hate to say it but your friends and husband are weird :-)! I don't know anyone else who likes the smell of elderflowers, but I also don't know anyone who dislikes the champagne made from them.
  • dianadors
    dianadors Posts: 801 Forumite
    500 Posts
    Once you get the lemons in it starts to smell gorgeous and the taste is amazing!
  • hart44
    hart44 Posts: 1,610 Forumite
    Please carry on with making it :D my mum has been making it for years and it is far better than anything I could buy in the shops. BEAUTIFUL :D
    Getting myself sorted 1 day/1thing at a time :) and Love sewing :)
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  • Barneysmom
    Barneysmom Posts: 10,136 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Combo Breaker
    Have you got the catpeetree elders?
    I really believe there are different types of elders, and one smells just like cat pee. :o

    I know from making my wine, when I used to go to Hereford to a particular place to get the berries and some trees you just didn't go near as they smelt horrible.
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  • Soundgirlrocks
    Soundgirlrocks Posts: 746 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Can someone post the recipe for this, I’ve been wanting to try it myself, how long does it keep?
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