In the midst of these chilly wintery gusts, we're on the hunt for a warming hint of sunshine. The Portland-based
Maine Mead Works has introduced four new honey-based meads that have the power to transport you from a sludge-trudged Alphabet City street to a honeysuckle-saturated field. Made with 100% Maine wildflower honey, yeast-fermented, and American Oak aged, the meads can be opened now for sipping on the rocks or mixed in cocktails, or cellared for future winters.
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The newest HoneyMaker Mead flavors are Apple Cyser (a medium-bodied off-dry mead made with cider-pressed MacIntosh apples for pairing with pork or strong cheeses), the peppery and clove-nosed Elderberry (a lovely accompaniment to bitter dark chocolate), the bright and crisp Cranberry (for late winter turkey dinners), and - most excitingly - the Reserve blend, a bourbon barrel-aged mead with hints of vanilla and toasted sugar, best served on the rocks or in a hot toddy.
If you're lucky enough to live in a non-restricted state, a 750-ml bottle can be purchased for
$14 from VinoShipper, or you can make a weekend road trip out of a trip up to the
Tasting Room.
This weekend, we'll be making a simple champagne cocktail by topping our bubbly with an ounce of the lavender mead. Mmmm, springtime.