Elderberry/Vodka Tincture - Still Good?

[SlightlyMad]

Hello: I am cleaning out a cupboard and discovered a large, gallon glass jar with about 2 or 3 lbs of what used to be dried elderberries in a tincture of vodka. The jar is full to almost the top with the concoction. The jar has a metal lid, but I had placed several layers of plastic wrap under the lid before I tightened it down.

I remember putting this together in the Spring of 2006, and it was never opened or disturbed. As it got shoved behind other empty jars and other odds and ends, I forgot completely about it.

It smells like Sambucol, and the plastic wrap has a little bit of sticky syrup on it. There is no mold or other indications of decay.

Is this still usable or should I toss it and try again?

Thanks!

[blue gecko]

From what you describe it sounds fine. I personally, would use it as long as it had no weird off taste or mold. You might try a sip and wait a day just to make sure you had no adverse affects. Around here elderberry tincture is a daily tonic. We take about a tablespoon or so. Today we took two. After visiting (and hugging) a friend he informed us that just a couple of days ago he was so sick he thought he would die....I love friends like that....

[SlightlyMad]

Thank you! I will try that and hopefully it will be fine.

Yeah, we got a serious case of flu when we drove 10 hours to visit a friend, who THEN informed us the whole family had been very sick all week. It was a small town in the middle of no-where, and no sambucol available, and I hadn't brought any. It was an agonizing drive home 3 days later...a trip which I hope never to have to repeat.

[Potemkin]

Originally Posted by SlightlyMad

Hello: I am cleaning out a cupboard and discovered a large, gallon glass jar with about 2 or 3 lbs of what used to be dried elderberries in a tincture of vodka. The jar is full to almost the top with the concoction. The jar has a metal lid, but I had placed several layers of plastic wrap under the lid before I tightened it down.

I remember putting this together in the Spring of 2006, and it was never opened or disturbed. As it got shoved behind other empty jars and other odds and ends, I forgot completely about it.

It smells like Sambucol, and the plastic wrap has a little bit of sticky syrup on it. There is no mold or other indications of decay.

I am not a big proponent of plastic wraps for long term storage.

To keep them flexible they add plasticizers which leach over time.

I had a plastic item in a plastic bag, left it in a regular cool, dark closet and after about 15 year there was a visible amount of liquid in the bottom of the bag, the plasticizer.

I am sure the stuff you have is OK, if there are plasticizers then they are probably food grade.

BTW, the " sticky syrup" you see on the top is probably crystallized sugars from the elderberries which were in the alcohol suspension migrating to the top.

Is this still usable or should I toss it and try again?

That much alcohol, I would doubt it would be bad after 6 years.

I have eaten beans, rice and chocolate that was older than that. LOL

[dreamseeer]

I would use it. Elderberry is a wonderful and powerful tincture. It only gets more potent with age. If you have the berries still in the jar.......strain them.

This tincture is in ALCOHOL which acts like a preservative.

btw............buy more elderberries and make more tincuture. you are going to need it.