Basic Cordial Making Process
See the pictures on the left
Gather herbs you would like to infuse in alcohol (vodka or whiskey is what I use)
Put in a mason jar.
Pour alcohol over the herbs
Strain the herbs from the infused alcohol.
Add sugar (syrup) or honey to taste. Honey will take a few more days to fully dissolve into alcohol.
Best Practices
Add bubbly water -- great to cut sweetness and intensty + opens the flavors.
Maximum of 1/4 of the jar filled for a fairly strong cordial with most seeds and herbs.
(Note: Tinctures often are half full of dried or full of fresh. Cordials as a pleasant drink rather than a medicine need at most 1/4 of the jar filled.
Infuse for 2-6 weeks starting on a new moon.
Elixirs
Elixirs differ from cordials in that there is a HIGH Honey ratio and I just take a few drops to receive the essence of the plant in a honey/alcohol base. These are three elixirs that I love: Rose petal, lavender and mugwort. I have also explored white sage elixir and I would like to do Lemon balm elixir for the synchrony with Honey and Melissa.