Elderflowers

My elderberry trees were in full bloom a few weeks back and I decided to try and make some elderflower champagne (River Cottage recipe).  The results were opened on christmas day and despite not having quite enough sugar the results were very tasty and had that lovely floral and yet slightly musky scent and flavour of the elderberry flowers with some great bubbles.  They are so short-lived it seems fitting to be able to capture their delicacy in a bottle.  I will try elderflower cordial next year and in autumn will look at using the wonderful purply black berries in jams and maybe a wine?  Not only do they taste delicious but just look at the gorgeous flowers, like tiny little start bursts - a favourite sign of late spring at Violet Hill Farm!