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Elderberry Infused Vodka
Elderberries grow wild here. They produce a cluster of small purplish fruit that ripen starting mid-August through the beginning of October. Two trees in the same location can ripen a good month apart.
I started this recipe about 8 weeks ago. It was during the middle of the summer so I had time to forage for fresh berries, remove them from their stems and then soak them in a quart of vodka.
Okay….once I had them picked and removed from the stems, there really wasn’t much more to do than wait….and wait….and wait!
Elderberries are a teeny little fruit with a fairly large seed. I’ve never really found a use for them before, but thought I’d figure out what to do with them. I made a cordial, which is a non-alcoholic concentrated mixture that is reported to ward off sickness. I’ll let you know if it works 🙂
Then I made this infused vodka! I’m sure it will ward off any germs just daring to come close! Oh wait, maybe that’s the vodka! Well, even if it doesn’t prevent sickness, it still tastes good!
After several weeks, I drained the elderberries and left behind was a purplish vodka with a slightly fruity flavor. The remaining berries were devoid of the purplish color.
Another recipe I make using vodka is Moscow Mules.
Vodka infused with Elderberries
- 2 cups fresh elderberries
- 1 quart vodka
- Place elderberries in a glass jar.
- Pour vodka over top and cover with a lid.
- Let vodka mixture sit for 6-8 weeks until color has developed.
- Strain off berries.
- Use elderberry vodka in place of regular vodka in any drink.
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27 Comments
Diny Jansen
March 23, 2020 at 9:41 pmDoes it have to be 100% vodka?
Kathy
March 24, 2020 at 6:04 amNo. You could use another alcohol instead of the vodka or even create a mix.
Fred G
March 23, 2019 at 5:25 pmGreat idea for vodka
Lauren
January 31, 2019 at 6:04 amJust curious if anyone ever uses the berries (after straining the vodka off) for something?
Kathy
January 31, 2019 at 6:18 amGreat question! I have not used the berries, but I am curious…. 🙂
Phyllis
September 30, 2016 at 5:51 pmOh boy I am going to have to try and find some. Are there still berries on the trees? Friend of mine at one time were going to get some and make wine 🙂 but never did it so would love to get some and try the vodka. Use to be a big tree down from the folks wonder if its still there? One way too to find out if it is elderberry is if the grouse are in it. They do love those berries. 🙂
Kathy
September 30, 2016 at 7:39 pmThere are still some berries on…you just need to start looking! I think you’ve still got a few weeks before they are all gone.
Ashley
September 30, 2016 at 3:57 amI’ve never infused my own vodka before – this is pretty darn cool! And with the elderberries! I like it!
Kathy
October 2, 2016 at 7:12 pmIt was a first for me too! Will definitely do it again!