Jump to content

That time of year again. Elderflower champers anyone!


7daysinaweek
 Share

Recommended Posts

  • Replies 134
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Well the last bottle I have is better than ever and if we have friends in for a barbie or whatever I will always add an inch of something to the bottom of the flute before pouring the Pros or Cava. Sometimes it will be damacene vodka but occasionally I will use the elderflower and it always draws a comment as they cannow place that distinctive aroma and when told look in abolute surprise.  I have a very large bottle left so may have some for next year as well.

My elderflower wine is not of the fizzy variety.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sounds lovely!

I secondary ferment in the bottle so it results in a fizzy sparkling wine. From your findings it sounds encouraging that even the sparkling variety may have good ageing to it.

I may label date a few bottles and try them over the next 5 years or so and see how they turn out. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes. I’ve got a 25 litre batch set away since Friday . Last year I tried using champagne yeast and 50/50 brewing sugar and cane sugar…. It actually ended up too strong.

 

This year I’ve stepped down to 25/75 with the champagne yeast. Bubbling away!!!!
 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

45 minutes ago, markm said:

Yes. I’ve got a 25 litre batch set away since Friday . Last year I tried using champagne yeast and 50/50 brewing sugar and cane sugar…. It actually ended up too strong.

 

This year I’ve stepped down to 25/75 with the champagne yeast. Bubbling away!!!!
 

 

Hi Mark

What is the difference between brewing sugar and usual cane sugar?

Was the alcohol content too high or did it result in a very strong taste?

Great stuff on keeping the tradition going. 👍

Link to comment
Share on other sites

14 hours ago, 7daysinaweek said:

Hi Mark

What is the difference between brewing sugar and usual cane sugar?

Was the alcohol content too high or did it result in a very strong taste?

Great stuff on keeping the tradition going. 👍

Without going into full details (I’m not a chemist) it changes to alcohol easier. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

17 hours ago, 7daysinaweek said:

Sounds lovely!

I secondary ferment in the bottle so it results in a fizzy sparkling wine. From your findings it sounds encouraging that even the sparkling variety may have good ageing to it.

I may label date a few bottles and try them over the next 5 years or so and see how they turn out. 

Good idea. Mine is bolstered as instructed in the directions by a supermarket brandy by the way. I can see no reaon why it should not keep. I have very distant memories as a Young Farmer calling to drop of a firend after a dance and his mother had some she had made years before.  I really cannot remember getting home and in bed that night ... happy 1950s days and nights.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

No problem at all. I will send you a few bottles.

Your offer is also very kind, however no worries about giving me something in return, I make plenty enough and I am more than happy to send you a few and hope that you may enjoy them. If you feel they are not to your palate, simply use them as 'fragrant drain cleaner' :lol: and i will not be offended in any way.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 23/06/2022 at 19:36, 7daysinaweek said:

All bottled up yesterday.

Just shy of 60 litres after siphoning off.

Will leave for at least 6 months as I usually do then will have a quaff!

20220622_155802.jpg

20220622_155814.jpg

20220622_155826.jpg

20220622_161322.jpg

HOW MUCH ???😄😄😄

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well that’s me bottled up tonight after 15 days in the barrel. 2 carbonation drops per bottle. I ran out of bottles after 32 bottles.  I could have easily hit 40-45. 
 

7Days (my elderflower mentor). What are those bottles you use?  I’ve been using the cooper beer bottles. 
 

PS - I had a 12 months old bottle tonight - Ice cold, it gets better with age…… 

 


 

 

DBF6AC13-B5F7-4F13-AEE0-8B3A443D2051.jpeg

Edited by markm
Link to comment
Share on other sites

37 minutes ago, mel b3 said:

HOW MUCH 😄😄😄

Just shy of 60 litres this year mel. Not as much as I would usually do, and I have done up to 125 litres on quite a few occassions over the years, the only problen with this amount is that it results in around 200 half litre bottles after siphoning off.

They take up a lot of room!

In about six months it will be ready for a first 'quaffing' , I will send you a few bottles to try if you like? 

 

34 minutes ago, paul1966 said:

would it harm it to leave it brewing for an extra 2 days before bottling, struggling finding the time before the weekend.

I do not see why not!

I think I had one year when I bottled up around 17 =18 days as I was working some crazy shifts, however, I did remove the 'flower mash' from the brew on the day it should have been bottled.

I would at least try to remove the elderflower and lemon rind mash from the brew as this may impart a 'mustiness in the end product as I have had that happen from a brew once. I went over by a good few days on the ferment and this resulted in a musty taste. The mustiness worsened the longer it sat in the bottle and left a unpleasant taste. I ended up pouring the lot, a couple of hundred bottles and it all went down the drain!

A lot of time, expense and effort washed away.

The drains had a fragrant aroma for a few weeks. :lol:

20 minutes ago, markm said:

Well that’s me bottled up tonight after 15 days in the barrel. 2 carbonation drops per bottle. I ran out of bottles after 32 bottles.  I could have easily hit 40-45. 
 

7Days (my elderflower mentor). What are those bottles you use?  I’ve been using the cooper beer bottles. 
 

PS - I had a 12 months old bottle tonight - Ice cold, it gets better with age…… 

 


 

 

DBF6AC13-B5F7-4F13-AEE0-8B3A443D2051.jpeg

Hi Mark

Great to see your brew coming along.

Yes, it ages better if left for at least 12 months, and I give the odd bottle a go after six months but try to leave the majority for at least 12 months.

Regarding the bottles.

I use new brown 500ml P.E.T brewing bottles, they are made specifically for secondary fermentation in the bottle which produces high pressure, and they are made to withstand this pressure. I don't use glass anymore after producing a few elderflower 'bombs' in the past which 'decorated' my garage in the wonderful sticky fragrant liquor.

The bottles can be readily bought online.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 hours ago, 7daysinaweek said:

Just shy of 60 litres this year mel. Not as much as I would usually do, and I have done up to 125 litres on quite a few occassions over the years, the only problen with this amount is that it results in around 200 half litre bottles after siphoning off.

They take up a lot of room!

In about six months it will be ready for a first 'quaffing' , I will send you a few bottles to try if you like? 

 

I do not see why not!

I think I had one year when I bottled up around 17 =18 days as I was working some crazy shifts, however, I did remove the 'flower mash' from the brew on the day it should have been bottled.

I would at least try to remove the elderflower and lemon rind mash from the brew as this may impart a 'mustiness in the end product as I have had that happen from a brew once. I went over by a good few days on the ferment and this resulted in a musty taste. The mustiness worsened the longer it sat in the bottle and left a unpleasant taste. I ended up pouring the lot, a couple of hundred bottles and it all went down the drain!

A lot of time, expense and effort washed away.

The drains had a fragrant aroma for a few weeks. 

Hi Mark

Great to see your brew coming along.

Yes, it ages better if left for at least 12 months, and I give the odd bottle a go after six months but try to leave the majority for at least 12 months.

Regarding the bottles.

I use new brown 500ml P.E.T brewing bottles, they are made specifically for secondary fermentation in the bottle which produces high pressure, and they are made to withstand this pressure. I don't use glass anymore after producing a few elderflower 'bombs' in the past which 'decorated' my garage in the wonderful sticky fragrant liquor.

The bottles can be readily bought online.

That's very kind of you indeed , I'd love to try it . Thankyou 👍

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.

×
×
  • Create New...