Elder
Wine
(Elderberry Wine)
Your
elder-berries should be picked when full ripe. Put them in a
stone jar, and set them in the oven, or a kettle of boiling
water, till the jar is hot through.
Then
take them out and strain them through a coarse cloth, wringing
the berries, and put the juice into a clean kettle.
To
every quart of juice put a pound of fine Lisbon sugar, let it
boil and skim it well.
When
it is clear and fine, pour it into a jar. When cold, cover it
close, and keep it till you make raisin
wine.
Then,
when you turn your wine, to every gallon of wine put half a
pint of the elder syrup, and it will prove excellent liquor.
It
is customary to drink elder wine hot.
from
The
Farmer's Wife
or, the Complete Country Housewife
London, c. 1780