Mrs Frugal Posted June 21, 2010 Author Share Posted June 21, 2010 Sometimes it doesn't get ever so fizzy but don't worry, it's still delicious. Leave it for the 3 weeks then chill it and enjoy. Hopefully it will have developed some sparkle by then . I've had a gentle fizz some years and a full blown explosive champagne whoosh other years when the bottles are opened but either way, it's scrumptious . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 I've added a couple of extra flower heads to mine this year, and had way too much fizz after just 24 hours Now I'm having to check the bottles daily and have it all stored in the downstairs loo where it can cause the least damage if anything happens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 My champagne is fizzing away beautifully about a week after bottling it up. At the moment I am having to let the air out and squash the sides of the bottle in before screwing the caps back on to leave plenty of room for gas expansion. At the moment this needs to be done about twice a day I also have some cordial on the go which will be ready to bottle up on Wednesday. I've had a taste and it's absolutely gorgeous, but more lemony than I imagined it would be, so I have hooked the lemon slices out. Is it normal for it to be noticeably lemony? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted June 22, 2010 Share Posted June 22, 2010 I also have some cordial on the go which will be ready to bottle up on Wednesday. I've had a taste and it's absolutely gorgeous, but more lemony than I imagined it would be, so I have hooked the lemon slices out. Is it normal for it to be noticeably lemony? Mine is quite lemony too, but then I zest the lemons before adding to the liquid. It makes it slightly fresher, but still with a lovely elderflower taste. edit - 10 bottles safely stashed in the outbuilding fridge!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 Mrs Frugal, I just wanted to say thank you ever so much for sharing your cordial recipe - I dragged my OH out edlerflower picking the other evening and after a very ki nd friend sending me a sachet of citric acid (I did trawl around the chemists to no avail) I made my very first batch of cordial which I must say smells and tastes just splendid, so splendid in fact that I have ordered more cordial bottles from lakeland and will be skipping my way down the country lanes next week with my burgon and ball garden trug to pick more elderflower... Anyway enough from me - I just wanted to say thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted June 25, 2010 Author Share Posted June 25, 2010 Glad to hear you're enjoying your cordial, Quin. I must go and collect more elderflowers this weekend too as our cordial supplies are dwindling fast and time's running out as the flowers don't hang about for long . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted July 1, 2010 Share Posted July 1, 2010 We enjoyed some of our elderflower champagne at the weekend, but the half-(glass) demi-john full in the garage exploaded Sunday making a lovely sticky mess and shattered glass every where! It was only 2 weeks old and the pressure had been released on it 3 times. Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 - you'd think a demi-john would be strong enough if you are releasing the pressure wouldn't you I bet you're still clearing up the mess? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted July 2, 2010 Author Share Posted July 2, 2010 Sorry to hear about the disaster TAJ. I've had demi-johns shatter in the past during wine making sessions. I don't think that some of them are particularly strong and I seem to remember that there was a warning sticker on the last one I bought against using them for anything fizzy. The stickiness goes a long way, doesn't it! It's important to keep releasing the pressure regularly - even daily if it's very fizzy. I forgot about a half full bottle one year and we discovered it at Christmas. It was in a plastic Cola bottle and the pressure had made the bottle into a bell shape! I let LSH open it . I had a plastic bottle explode another year in the larder and the pressure pushed the tongue and groove side of the larder wall out! Powerful stuff ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 Yikes That' s reminded me though that I need to check and release the pressure in my bottles..I'm off.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 Just done mine, it was really, really fizzy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 - you'd think a demi-john would be strong enough if you are releasing the pressure wouldn't you I bet you're still clearing up the mess? Hubby made it and it was in his garage, so he did the clearing up, but apparently it is all done, but a lot of water and sticky cloths doing so. Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted July 6, 2010 Share Posted July 6, 2010 Hubby made it and it was in his garage, so he did the clearing up, but apparently it is all done, but a lot of water and sticky cloths doing so. Tracy Hmmmmmmmm - I bet it's still sticky - I'm glad you didn't have to do all the cleaning up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted July 11, 2010 Share Posted July 11, 2010 Well DH and I cracked open the elderflower champagne this weekend..... and I truely think it's the most heavenly thing I have ever drunk! Next year I am going to have to make several gallons! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted July 13, 2010 Share Posted July 13, 2010 All thisd sticky talk reminds me last Christmas we were having tea and the kids asked for some lemonade. I'd previusly knocked bottle over 1/2 hr before and on opening it shot every where. OH and kids and my elderly father looked on as I swore like a trooper and was up to my ankles in the stuff. Dad carried on eating as nowt keeps my dad from his grub. I spent hours cleaning before it was stick free. OH and kids were so quiet - probably too scared to speak - I was in such a strop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted July 15, 2010 Share Posted July 15, 2010 Next year I am going to have to make several gallons! Me too! I've sold 10 litres to a neighbour, and now family have found out I make it too. I have orders for gallons already for next year, hope it's another bumper year. I've also discovered absolutely loads of elder on local walks, so will be able to make loads of elderberry cordial, which I love! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 Just bumping this brilliant thread up I wanted to check the elderflower champagne recipe and think I might need some vinegar (recipe on first page). Must get some next week though as my lovely black elder has a load of flower heads on it, won't be long now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stehaggan Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 OMG is it that time already? I best get walking the dog to the big park haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunshinesupernova Posted May 4, 2011 Share Posted May 4, 2011 I'm intending having a go this year. By the time I'd got my act in gear last year - it was too late ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted May 15, 2011 Share Posted May 15, 2011 Just another reminder folks, elder round here is in flower Lemons - check, white wine vinegar - check, plenty of sugar - double check, I'm ready! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 Our first flowers were open over the weekend as well I'm going to make cordial and freeze it in small bottles this year to use over ice-cream. It's too good to not make any but I pile weight on if I keep drinking it - same with the mint cordial. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 Having picked some flowers yesterday, I've now got half a bucket of the nectar brewing on the top............mmmm can't wait to sample the first batch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 An annoying elder has self sown itself in our front garden and because I'm too idle to deal with it, it is now big enough to flower. So, this year we can have some homemade fizz with our own flowers For some reason, we still have 2 bottles from last year - do you think they will still be drinkable? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 Our elders are only just thinking about flowering here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 we still have 2 bottles from last year - do you think they will still be drinkable? Yes! I saved several bottles from last year, one was opened in February, one was given in a birthday gift bag a week ago, and I have one left. I need one for a July birthday but might be able to use 2011 vintage for that It might be awfully fizzy though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
