Elderberry schnapps

Elderberry schnapps - based on fully ripe, black elderberries - tastes almost like a good port wine.

It's round and fruity with hints of almond, vanilla, and chocolate.

The colour is deep purple.

Serve with ice creams, desserts, cakes, all kinds of cheese and cheesecakes.

Or add the schnapps to chutneys, marmalades, teas, pies, cake fillings, sauces and other dishes where you would normally use elderberry.

Very good as aperitif.

Elderberry schnapps blends very well with...
apple schnapps · lemon schnapps · sloe schnapps.

Also, see how you can easily...
turn your elderberry schnapps into a liqueur.

Black elder

Black elder is also known as common elder.

It's a deciduous bush, shrub or small tree that grows to a height of 8 meters.

It has corky grey-brown bark and green, pinnate and toothed leaves.

The leaves have a characteristic and unpleasant smell when crushed.

The small, cream-coloured flowers are arranged in flat-topped clusters.

They have a strong, aromatic and very pleasant, musky fragrance.

The ripe, globose stone-fruits - the elderberries - are black, juicy and bitter to taste.

However, they become milder and sweeter after the first frost - or after a week or so in the freezer.

Leaves, bark, flowers and fruits are used for many medicinal and culinary purposes including wine making.

Black elder has been called the medicine chest of the people, and earlier there was much folklore, superstition, and witchcraft associated with this plant.

Black elderberries are very rich in antioxidants.

Here in Denmark, black elder grows wild throughout the country - in nutrient-rich soil in light woods, hedges, windbreaks, shrubs, meadows, fields and along roadsides.

More information about the black elder tree

Recipe

Use fresh, black and fully ripe elderberries.

Pick them right after the first frost, or freeze them for a week or so before use. The frost makes the berries much sweeter.

Remember to defrost them in the vodka.

Direction:

• Rinse the elderberries carefully and remove all stems.
• Leave them to dry in the shadow - on paper towel.
• Put 8 deciliter whole berries in a clean glass jar with tight fitting lid.
• Cover with 3-4 deciliter clear, unflavoured vodka - 40% alcohol content (80 proof).
• Steep for 1-4 weeks or even more in a dark place at room temperature, 18-20°C (64-68°F).
• Shake lightly and taste it from time to time.
• Strain and filter your infusion into a clean glass bottle or jar with tight-fitting lid.
• Store (age) it for at at least 2 months in a dark place at room temperature before serving.

Note: If for some reason you are not satisfied with your infusion, there are ways to adjust both taste and flavours - click here to see how.

Serve your elderberry schnapps at room temperature in suitable glasses. And remember to keep your schnapps bottle tightly closed and in a dark place before and between servings.