Sparkling Elderflower

From ‘A Year in a Bottle’ by Sally Wise.

The beautiful elderflower heads make a deliciously flavoured non-alcoholic drink, ideal to serve on its own or as part of a mocktail or a cocktail.

3 cups of sugar

4 cups of boiling water

14 cups of cold water

6 elderflower heads…I add at least 10. Most individual flowers on flower head, need to have opened but it is good to have a few on the head that are unopened.

2 lemons chopped roughly

2 tablespoons of white vinegar or cider vinegar ( I use apple cider vinegar)

Dissolve the sugar in the boiling water in a food-safe bucket or ceramic container.

Add cold water and then the elderflower heads, lemons and vinegar.

Stir well to mix.

Cover and allow to stand for 48 hours.

Strain and pour into clean bottles ( PET bottles are best as they allow for a degree of expansion without exploding. If using glass bottles leave about 1/3 of bottle unfilled.)

The Sparkling Elderflower will be ready in 1 to 2 weeks.

Chill before CAREFULLY opening and preferably outside.

Makes approximately 4.5 liters.

Sparkling Cordial can also be made using raspberries or rhubarb.