Years ago a friend gave me a bottle of his elderflower cordial. I didn’t think much of it, until about a week later I decided to try it and had one of those excited moments when food memories are made. I remember I kept asking Kate over and over again, ‘Did you taste that? It’s amazing!’ What was even more amazing was discovering that it went particularly well with vodka. Well, let’s face it, what doesn’t go well with vodka?
I will say, though, that this has to be the most refreshing cordial I’ve ever drunk. You make it in spring but drink it in summer. When you’ve been slaving out in the patch and you need a break, nothing beats a big old pitcher of ice and elderflower. Just perfect.
I tend to make massive batches, as I find a bottle of home-made elderflower cordial becomes an excellent form of currency. And look, you can pick a hundred flower heads in no time.