Mead Cocktail Recipes
Mead is an excellent choice for mixologists and cocktail enthusiasts, making it a standout mixer in today's craft cocktail scene.
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What is Mead?
Mead is an alcoholic beverage made with honey, water and yeast. Mead is the earliest recorded alcoholic drink in human history, and predates wine by almost three millennia.
Often dubbed 'honey wine,' mead shares a production process similar to wine but uses honey, not grapes, as the primary source of sugar. It mirrors wine in its potential for aging, usually reaching an alcohol content of 10-14%, and is traditionally available in bottled form. Apart from braggot meads, mead production excludes grains and is gluten-free.
Types of Mead
Mead offers a delightful spectrum of flavors that can cater to a wide range of tastes. Whether you prefer something herbaceous and dry, reminiscent of wildflowers and herbs, or are more inclined towards the sweet and fruity, the diverse world of mead has something to offer for everyone's palate.
Traditional
Traditional mead is pure honey wine, made with only honey, water and yeast. Traditional meads often exhibit a rich honey character. These meads can vary in sweetness levels, from bone dry to dessert sweet.
Melomel
For those with a penchant for fruit-forward beverages, fruit meads, or melomels, offer a burst of fruity flavors ranging from berries to tropical fruits, complemented by the natural sweetness of honey. These meads can be bright and refreshing or rich and complex, depending on the combination of fruits and honey used in their production. Many fruit meads have thier own unique names:
Metheglin
Metheglins are infused with various herbs, spices, and botanicals, adding layers of complexity and depth to its flavor profile. For many centuries, mead infused with herbs and spices was a common remedy for colds and ailments. Common spices include cinnamon, rosemary, nutmeg, clove, ginger, allspice, thyme, and hyssop.
Braggot
Braggot is made by fermenting honey and malted barley together; making it a mead-beer hybrid. Braggot was a common drink in medieval times.
Cyser - Apple mead
Bilbemel - Blueberry mead
Pyment - Grape mead
Black Mead - Black currant mead
Vikings Blood - Cherry mead
Morat - Mulberry mead
What is Mead
Types of Mead
How to Drink Mead
How to Store Mead
How to Serve Mead
Present day, traditional mead is commonly enjoyed chilled in a wine glass. But historically, it was poured at room temperature. A high quality mead will taste GOOD no matter the temp. This versatile beverage can be enjoyed at a variety of temperatures, ranging from ice-cold to piping hot.
Moreover, mead shines as an exceptional ingredient in cocktails. Enhance a Vodka Tonic or Gin Fizz with a touch of fruity mead. Concoct a delightful mead Sangria, or infuse your hot tea with a hint of herbal mead. With countless possibilities, the diverse and adaptable nature of mead elevates it to an indispensable ingredient that should grace every serious mixologist's liquor cabinet. Check out our mead cocktail recipes.
How to Store Mead
Unopened Bottles: Store unopened bottles of mead in a dark, cool, and dry place away from sunlight.
Opened Bottles: Store opened bottles of light mead in a refrigerator. Meads with an alcohol content above 13% can be tightly resealed and stored in a dark, cool, dry place.
Sustainability & Environmental Impact
Mead is more than an old world beverage; it's an opportunity to support the local environment. The inherent characteristics of mead production are sustainable and environmentally beneficial.
Mead stands out as a more sustainable and ecologically friendly choice compared to wine or beer for several reasons:
Minimal Agricultural Footprint
Unlike beer and wine, mead production does not rely on vast agricultural fields for grains or vineyards. Honey, the primary fermentable in mead, is produced by bees, which can thrive in diverse environments.
Water Conservation
The cultivation of grapes for wine and grains for beer typically requires substantial water resources. Mead, on the other hand, primarily relies on the collection of honey, which involves less water usage. This aspect makes mead production more water-efficient.
Learn more about How Mead is Pioneering Water Conservation in the Alcohol Industry.
Lower Carbon Footprint
The transportation and distribution of grains, grapes, and beer ingredients often involve significant energy consumption and contribute to carbon emissions. Since mead relies on honey, which can be locally sourced in nearly any region in the world, it has the potential for a lower carbon footprint, especially if produced and consumed locally.
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Support
Beekeeping for honey production supports pollination, aiding in the preservation of biodiversity. Bees play a crucial role in ecosystems, supporting the growth of plants and crops. The declining honey bee population is a pressing issue. By choosing mead, you become a part of the solution. Demand for local honey from meaderies aids in the sustainability of beekeeping; saving bees to keep busy doing what they do best - preserving and revitalizing our local ecosystem.
Minimal Waste and Byproducts
Mead production typically generates less waste compared to beer or wine manufacturing processes. With careful brewing methods and ingredient sourcing, mead production can minimize waste and environmental impact.
Mead not only brings you back to the roots of ancient libations, but also reflects a dedication to environmentally responsible and sustainable practices. Choosing mead supports bee populations, which in turn contributes to healthier ecosystems.
Save the Bees, Drink Mead!
Sustainability & Environmental Impact
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