Elderberry Cordial
Autumn (Fall to all those across the pond) brings about a change in our menu and many, many delicious things to eat and cook with like apples, nuts and stone fruits. I walk my dogs regularly in Belvoir Forest Park in Belfast and I’m constantly noticing various berries growing all around the walkways. One in particular appealed to me so before I chose to pick it, I checked with an expert that it was indeed edible! Clare McQuillan is a foraging queen and knows the ins and outs of what you can pick and where you can pick it in and around Belfast. She said they were elderberries and they would make a beautiful cordial so that’s exactly what I did with them and I was delighted with the results!
Great British Chefs Elderberry cordial recipe
500g of elderberries
500g of water
350g of caster sugar
1/2 lemon, rind plus 1tbsp lemon juice
Method
Remove the berries from the stems using a fork then wash them, removing any bits of stalk or leaf
Drain the berries and place in a pan along with the lemon rind. Cover with the water and simmer on a low heat for 30 minutes, until the berries have broken down. Skim away any scum that appears on the surface
Strain the juice through a colander lined with muslin cloth set over a bowl. Gently press the berries to extract as much juice as possible
Return the juice to the pan and add the sugar and lemon juice. Gently heat and stir until the sugar has dissolved
Taste and add more sugar or lemon juice to your taste
Decant into a sterilised bottle and seal
I topped up my elderberries with some blackberries which I think deepened the dark rich colour of the final product. This would taste great added to some gin or Prosecco to make a delicious cocktail.
I added mine to some sparkling water with a few pomegranate seeds and a sprig of mint (purely for decoration) but I will definitely be trying it with some prosecco come the weekend. I can’t believe I am only happening upon this foraging movement at this late stage of the game, I’m hooked already! The satisfaction from start to finish has inspired me to learn more about the art of foraging so watch out for future posts of this nature!
Kai background by Black Velvet Styling
Echlinville Distillery Tour
My most recent food and drink adventure was Echlinville distillery, nestled just off the shores of Strangford lough. Only forty five minutes from Belfast, you too could be swillin’ a wee dram between your fingers and thumb! Fortified with the knowledge as to how it got in your glass by taking the Echlinville distillery tour . You will learn how Dunville’s Whiskey and Jawbox Gin are made and also their Ban Poitín, all available to sample at the bar after the tour. I cried off from any Poitín tasting but maybe next time!
The drive to the distillery itself is beautiful. You will pass Mount Stewart and go through beautiful quaint Greyabbey then continue along the shoreline and to Kircubbin where you will find the Echlinville estate and still house. Go to https://echlinville.com/story/ to read all about their story and the history of the estate.
The staff at Echlinville are amazing, super friendly and leave you feeling like you just visited an old friend for a few drinks and a catchup. The tour was light, funny and informative with just enough detail about the process of making whisky without giving away all their secrets. For that they’d have to kill you, most likely with the WWII tank they have parked up outside (not kidding).
We were shown the old courtyard with which they have big plans for in the future, the still house where all the magic happens and the maturation warehouse where the casks are kept. It’s here the whiskey matures and develops it’s depth and charatcer drawn from the distinctive properties of the barrel it’s stored in. All the terms you hear like ‘barrel aged’ and ‘single malt’ will start to make sense plus you’ll learn a whole host more!
After the tour we kicked back and enjoyed our drinks vouchers with which you get to try two drinks from the selection on offer. I sampled the Dunville’s Three Crowns Whiskey, Jawbox Rhubarb and Ginger gin and Echlinville Irish pot still gin. You are made to feel so welcome it’s honestly hard to leave but I am a complete lightweight when it comes to booze so three was enough or I would have been staying the night!
Great tour, friendly staff and you leave wanting more. I’ll return to Echlinville with friends and family on tow as this is a fabulous way to spend the afternoon for both visitors and locals alike.
Cheers!
