Elderberry Gin Recipe - Great British Chefs

This elderberry gin recipe is the perfect way to use any elderberries you might have come across in your garden or on a country walk. The fruity, sweet flavour of the berries will leech out into the gin over time, resulting in a delightful tipple that's perfect for mixing into cocktails or topping up with tonic.

hide story show story

This is my basic recipe for elderberry gin, but I love adding different ingredients to change the final flavour. Orange rind and a cinnamon stick gives the gin a festive twist, while lime zest with coriander seeds and lemongrass works surprisingly well too.

400g of elderberries
750ml of gin
lemon peel
150g of sugar

print recipe

shopping List

1l Kilner jar

Carefully remove the berries from their stalks. Combing through them with a fork is a quick and effective method, but be careful not to squash the berries if they are particularly ripe. Discard any green or unripe berries

Place the berries in a bowl of cold water, remove any bits of leaf and stalk that rise to the surface of the water, then drain the clean berries and place them in a 1 litre jar

Pour the gin over the berries and add a couple of pieces of lemon peel. Close the jar and leave to steep for at least 1 month away from direct sunlight, turning the jar every now and then

After the berries have been steeping for 1 month or more, strain the gin through a sieve into a bowl. Keep the berries – they are delicious stirred through gravy for your roast dinner or sprinkled over ice cream. To sweeten the gin, place the sugar into a pan with 100ml water and set over a low heat, stirring until it has dissolved into a syrup. Allow to cool completely

Once the syrup has cooled, stir it into the gin bit by bit, tasting along the way until you are happy with the sweetness

Pour into a presentation bottle using a jug or funnel. It is now ready to drink, but ages well over time. Serve straight or add tonic for something more refreshing

Discover more: