Elderberry Brandy

Elderflower tincture has a strange taste that I'm not fond of. I prefer to dry the 
flowers and combine them with yarrow and mint for a fever-reducing, flu-easing tea. The 
berries, when I've been lucky enough to find them here, I usually pop into the freezer 
(still on the stems). Once frozen, it is easy to strip off the berries for use in 
muffins and other baked goods. Here is a recipe from Judith Berger's 'Herbal Rituals' 
that may be helpful:

* elderberries
* brandy
* jar with good lid

Steep the berries in the brandy for six weeks, adding some brandy every couple of days, 
to keep the jar filled to the brim. After six weeks, you will have a warming cordial 
which acts as a superb iron tonic while opening the sinuses and reducing fever.