Elderberry Cordial

An old-fashioned recipe from the Wisconsin Dutch section of the US Regional Cookbook, Chicago Culinary Arts Institute, 1947.

• Ready In: 1 hr 5 mins
• Serves: 96
• Yields: 6 quarts

Ingredients

• 8  quarts elderberries
• 2  quarts cold water
• 4  lbs sugar
• 1  tablespoon whole allspice
• 1  tablespoon whole cloves
• 1  cinnamon stick
• 2  quarts  whiskey or 2  quarts brandy

Directions

1. Stem and wash berries.
2. cover with water and cook until very soft; strain.
3. Measure juice; for each quart, add 2 cups of sugar.
4. Return to saucepan.
5. Tie spices in bag and add to sugar/juice mixture.
6. Cook until thick.
7. Cool, remove spices and measure again.
8. Add 1 pint liquor for each quart of syrup.
9. Bottle and cork tightly.
10. Let sit in cool dark place for at least three weeks.
11. Improves with age.