Making your own elderflower cordial is a way to remember spring come winter. Elderflowers are the color of butter and smell sweet and just a bit spicy. You will need to pick them before noon, as the aroma fades once the afternoon sun hits the flowers. Time is also important: You want to make this liqueur within an hour or two of picking the flowers to get the best effect.

To make about a quart of liqueur, you will need 10-20 flower heads and a bottle of vodka, or, if you can find it, grappa.

Making this couldn’t be much easier:

• Snip the flowers off the stalks into a quart Mason jar.
• Cover with the alcohol and seal.
• Keep in a cool, dark place for a month.
• Strain the flowers and debris off with cheesecloth and return the alcohol to the jar.
• Add between 1/4 cup and 1/2 cup sugar, depending on how sweet you want it. Seal the jar again and shake well to combine.
• Put the jar back in the pantry, and shake it from time to time until the sugar has dissolved. When it is, you are ready to drink it.

Elderflower liqueur is especially good ice cold on a hot summer’s afternoon, or neat during winter. Keep in mind the liqueur will darken as it ages into a deep amber. This is normal.

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