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My aunt nd I were talking this weekend. we both enjoy a good elderflower cordial, and both enjoy vodka-based fruit liquors so why not combine the two? has anyone done this and did it turn out as good as I'm expecting it to?!

There's no reason at all why steeping elderflowers in vodka shouldn't give you the results - but it depends upon what results you're looking for. Vodka WILL leech out the elderflower flavour. If you're thinking of drinking it neat (interestingly, the first time I typed that it came out as urining it neat) then four or five florets per litre should do the trick. On the other hand, if you're thinking of using the resultant spirit diluted with something else (what am I saying - I'm talking to the Flibble ) then you'll want to make it around the order of 20 to 30 florets per litre. Then , however, the vodka (by itself) would be so overpoweringly elderish (and that really is cats' peeish) that you would no longer have a choice in its use.

On the other hand, if you already have elderflower cordial and you have vodka, you and your aunt could have a very interesting afternoon working out exactly what the ideal combination is. Enjoy.

EDIT: And having said all of that, it really depends upon your flowers - some are much, much, more flavoursome than others. Try soaking one in, say, 100 mils of vodka and taste it after a couple of days. When you get back from the loo, adjust accordingly.

i have a recipe for an elderflower cordial and vodka cocktail somewhere. im off to work now but will try and dig it out later - may be a good substitute if elderflower vodka doesnt work out?

how are you going to make it ...???

I love sloe vodka ... elderflower sounds interesting!

I was going to use my own method of matching wieght for weight flowers and sugar, like I do the fruit vodkas. Then once it's strained I add some stock syrup and seal the bottles.

Thanks for the info MKG, I think I'm going to try a bit of both lol!

Ooo, that sounds lovely!

Do let us know how it goes

We made lots of different fruit vodkas last year - Kiwi fruit vodka is only for the very hardy - tastes great but smells like vomit!

I did an apple and kiwi vodka-syrup, it was delicious! Didn't smell of anything nasty that I remember, though it wasn't around for long before it went in our tummies.