Cocktails with Elderflower cordial
Elderflower cordial is a non-alcoholic elderflower infusion, sweetened and soured with citric acid or lemon, so it is tart as well as sweet.
How it's used
It brings both the sugar and the elderflower, so a drink built on it often needs little or no other syrup. Overdone, elderflower turns soapy, and a short drink reaches that point sooner than a long one. Gin, cucumber and lemon are its classic partners.
Substitutes for Elderflower cordial
Cut it with water: about 9 ml of syrup plus 6 ml of water for every 15 ml of cordial. The balance mostly holds. If it tastes flat, add a few drops of lemon juice.
Works at about 20 ml per 15 ml of cordial. It adds alcohol, so keep it out of alcohol-free drinks.
Storage
A sealed commercial bottle keeps for months; once open, keep it in the fridge and use it within a few weeks. Homemade cordial keeps a couple of weeks refrigerated. The first sign of turning is a faint fizz rather than a smell.
