How to Make Elderberry Liqueur
Tip
You can place your cleaned elderberries into a blender and blend lightly into a mush, if you desire. Do not blend too long because the seeds hold tannic acid, and by breaking them up too much, the liqueur will become bitter tasting.
Purple elderberries are native, wild plants that can be used to make jelly or liqueur. When you think of elderberries, think of regular purple grapes. In fact, elderberries have a similar aroma and color, and also similar to grapes, they have seeds. When making your elderberry liqueur, it is best to use fresh elderberries so you will get the most flavor. Dried ones can be used, but they might not make as flavorful a liqueur as when using fresh. This recipe isn't hard, and before long you will be sipping your homemade brew.
Clean 1 pint of elderberries, making sure to remove any part of the sappy stem from them. The stems are slightly toxic, so you don't want any of them mixing in with your liqueur. Wash the elderberries off in a strainer.
- Purple elderberries are native, wild plants that can be used to make jelly or liqueur.
- The stems are slightly toxic, so you don't want any of them mixing in with your liqueur.
Place the elderberries into a quart-size Mason jar or other type of jar that seals well.
Add 2/3 cup of sugar and the juice of one lemon into the jar with the elderberries. Don't worry about the elderberries floating in the liquid, as you will be removing them later in the process.
Pour 1 quart of vodka over the sugar, lemon juice and elderberries. Shake the jar to mix the ingredients together.
Place the jar in a cool, dark place, such as your cupboard. Allow the mixture to sit undisturbed for one month.
- Place the elderberries into a quart-size Mason jar or other type of jar that seals well.
Pour the mixture through a strainer and into a bowl to remove the elderberries from the liqueur. You can also pour the mixture through a strainer with cheesecloth. Squeeze the mash mixture inside the cheesecloth to remove all the elderberry juice that you can. You can repeat the process to remove any fine particles.
Pour the liqueur back into the Mason jar or into another decorative container. The elderberry liqueur is now ready to drink and enjoy. Elderberry liqueur will keep for a very long time.
- Pour the mixture through a strainer and into a bowl to remove the elderberries from the liqueur.
- Squeeze the mash mixture inside the cheesecloth to remove all the elderberry juice that you can.
Related Articles
References
Tips
- You can place your cleaned elderberries into a blender and blend lightly into a mush, if you desire. Do not blend too long because the seeds hold tannic acid, and by breaking them up too much, the liqueur will become bitter tasting.
Writer Bio
For over 25 years, Joyce Starr has owned businesses dealing with landscape & design, lawn maintenance, specialty herbs and a garden center. She holds certificates in landscape design and xeriscaping. Starr shares her passion for nature in her writing, publishing articles on horticulture, outdoor recreation, travel as well as business.
