Very Impressive Elderflower Pressé
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Serves 6-8
20 mins prep time + steep overnight
5 mins cook time
recipe courtesy of our friends at Abel & Cole
Very Impressive Elderflower Pressé is a beautifully refreshing, delicately floral drink that captures the essence of summer in every sparkling sip. Light, elegant, and effortlessly sophisticated, it is the perfect non-alcoholic beverage for celebrations, garden parties, picnics, or simply enjoying a moment of refreshment at home. With its fragrant elderflower notes and crisp effervescence, it offers a drink that feels both luxurious and naturally uplifting.
At the heart of this pressé is elderflower, prized for its soft, aromatic flavour and subtle sweetness. The elderflower infusion brings a gentle floral perfume that is reminiscent of blooming hedgerows in late spring and early summer. Its flavour is refined and lightly honeyed, creating a beautifully fragrant base that feels both nostalgic and refreshing.
The elderflower is carefully blended with sparkling water or soda water, adding a lively fizz that transforms the drink into something vibrant and invigorating. The bubbles lift the floral notes, enhancing their aroma and creating a crisp, clean finish that makes each sip feel refreshing and revitalising. This effervescence is what gives the pressé its celebratory character, making it perfect for toasting special moments.
To balance the natural sweetness of the elderflower, a touch of citrus—typically lemon or lime—is added. This bright acidity cuts through the floral notes, ensuring the drink remains light and refreshing rather than overly sweet. The citrus also adds a zesty freshness that enhances the overall depth of flavour.
Served over plenty of ice, Very Impressive Elderflower Pressé becomes an elegant and cooling beverage, ideal for warm days or stylish entertaining. It can be elevated further with thoughtful garnishes such as fresh mint leaves, thin cucumber ribbons, lemon slices, or even edible flowers, which add both visual beauty and aromatic complexity.
Very Impressive Elderflower Pressé is more than just a drink—it is a celebration of simplicity and natural flavour. Light, sparkling, and beautifully fragrant, it offers a refined alternative to sugary soft drinks and a sophisticated option for any occasion, delivering refreshment with a touch of elegance in every glass.
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Ingredients
You'll Need
- 20-25 heads of elderflower
- 1 litre cold water
- 1 lemon, juice and zest
- Caster sugar, to taste
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Method
- Shake the flower heads to remove any creatures.
- Pluck the flowers from the stalks and stems (by hand results in a richer flavour and less stalk, though scissors do the job just fine).
- Scoop the flowers into a sieve to help sift out any further insects. Tumble into a large bowl.
- With a veg peeler or zester, peel your lemon to get strips and add to bowl. Halve the lemon and squeeze in all the juice. Pour in the cold water.
- Place a little sheet of greaseproof paper over to lock in all the flavour, to keep it from browning and to keep anything from diving in. Steep for 8 hours or overnight.
- Strain through a muslin cloth or tea towel-lined sieve into a large saucepan. Squeeze the flowers to ensure you get as much flavour out of them as possible.
- Gently warm. Add a few spoons or shakes of sugar, to sweeten it to your liking. Serve on ice straight away or bottle, cork/seal and store in the fridge for up to a week. Freeze any excess.