10 Best Meads UK | Kinsale Mead Co., Lyme Bay and More
Unsure where to start when sampling this ancient, sweet beverage? Not to worry, because we are here to guide you through the A-to-Z of mead, from its brewing process to how to go about choosing your first bottle. We will also share 10 of our top recommendations available on Amazon, including ones with delicious flavours like almond and cherry. So sit down, grab a tankard and read on to discover the best meads to buy online!
Quick List - Top Meads
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Table of Contents
- How to Choose a Mead in the UK
- Decide Whether You Want a Traditional Mead or One With a Fruity or Spiced Flavour1
- Consider Which Regional Variety You’d Like to Drink, as Each Will Contain a Different Ration of Honey to Water2
- Check the Alcohol Content to Avoid Getting Too Tipsy ― Most Bottles of Mead Will Have an ABV of Between 6% And 22%3
- How Should You Drink Mead?
- Can Mead Be Served Warm?
How to Choose a Mead in the UK
- Decide Between a Traditional or Fruity and Spicy Mead
- Consider Which Regional Variety You’d Prefer
- Make Sure to Check the Alcohol Content
Decide Whether You Want a Traditional Mead or One With a Fruity or Spiced Flavour
Traditional Mead Is Ideal for First-Timers and Those Who Prefer to Be Able to Taste the Honey
When we say a 'traditional' mead, we mean a mead that is just made out of honey, water, and yeast, with no extra ingredients. Traditional meads are great for beginners looking to see what mead tastes like, as well as honey-lovers who really want to be able to taste the high-quality honey complemented by alcohol.
While these types of mead don’t hugely differ in manufacturing methods, small differences in how they are made will affect how sweet or dry they are. So try to think about whether you want something sweet, dry, or in between. Mead enthusiasts might also consider buying a variety in order to get a taste of the subtle differences!
Those Wanting to Experiment Should Give Refreshing Fruity or Warming Spiced Meads a Try
A mead made with fruit is actually called a melomel. So you'll want to look out for this if you would like to try a mead with a more unique, fruity flavour. The use of fruit gives meadmakers more freedom to experiment, so no two melomel are the same!
These days, there are a great variety of flavours available. The most common are grape (pyment meads), berry (berry meads), and apple (cyser meads), as well as more unique flavours such as rhubarb, peach, and even tropical fruits.
Another option to consider when browsing the world of meads are spiced meads. These are a great winter drink, and the perfect accompaniment to your Christmas dinner.
If you prefer fruity flavours, try our Best Japanese Plum Wines!
Consider Which Regional Variety You’d Like to Drink, as Each Will Contain a Different Ration of Honey to Water
As to be expected of one of the oldest drinks in the world, there are many different regional varieties from all over the world. Of course, we have plenty of delicious meads here in the British Isles, which might be a good option if you want something local made with British or Irish honey and fruit.
Setting your sights further afield, you will come across many meads made in Europe. 'Dwojniak', 'poltorak', and 'csworniak' are all names for Polish mead, with the name reflecting the ratio of water and honey. 'Medovina' is the name for mead in Central European countries such as Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
On our list, there are also meads from France and Germany to consider, but don’t forget to try different meads when travelling in another continent too! By tasting meads from around the world you can learn about the culture and traditions of other countries, which can only be a good thing.
For something further afield, try our Best German Beers!
Check the Alcohol Content to Avoid Getting Too Tipsy ― Most Bottles of Mead Will Have an ABV of Between 6% And 22%
Like any alcoholic beverage, the alcohol content of mead can vary depending on how it's been produced. Most meads will have an ABV that falls somewhere between around 6% to 22% – although the meads in our ranking vary from 6.5% to 18%.
For your reference, the average alcohol content of beer is around 4.5%, and for wine, it's 11.6%. Make sure that you check the alcohol content on the label and make sure you know your limits so that a civilised afternoon of mead tasting doesn’t turn into something else!
For something more subtle, try our Best Ciders!
10 Best Meads in the UK
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Lyme Bay Traditional Mead | | The Best Tasting Traditional Mead | |
2 | Lyme Bay Moniack Mead | | A Balanced Mead from the Highlands | |
3 | Lyme Bay Winery Rhubarb Mead | | Honey and Rhubarb Make the Perfect Summer Combo | |
4 | Chalice Mead Company Caramel Mead | | A Caramelised Drink for Those With a Sweet Tooth | |
5 | Honig Klause Heidenau Premium Honey Mead | | Enjoy the Pure Taste of Honey | |
6 | Kinsale Mead Co. Wild Red Mead | | A Fruity Mead for Any Time of the Year | |
7 | Lancashire Mead Company Elderflower Mead | | Delicate Herbal Mead With Elderflower Cordial | |
8 | Kinsale Mead Co. Atlantic Dry Mead | | A Crisp Mead for Fans of White Wine | |
9 | Lindisfarne Spiced Mead | | Lighter and Fruitier Than Regular Mead | |
10 | Honig Klause Heidenau Viking Blood | | A Sweet Mead Fermented With Cherries |
The Best Tasting Traditional Mead
From Devon based company Lyme Bay comes this deliciously pure mead. They make this traditional drink using an old recipe, resulting in just the right amount of sweetness and a strong honey flavour.
Despite the sweet taste and high quality of this mead, this is the most affordable option on this list – perfect for those who want to try a pure and traditional mead for the first time!
A Balanced Mead from the Highlands
Reviewers say that it is perfect for those who just want a good traditional mead, and praise it’s delicious and smooth taste. As an added bonus, it is extremely affordable for such a high quality drink!
Honey and Rhubarb Make the Perfect Summer Combo
Again, this won’t suit those who are looking for a pure, traditional mead, but it is a great one to try out if you aren’t a fan of the usual plain honey flavour. Lyme Bay also do a wide range of other flavours such as Mint, Ginger, and Christmas spices, so this is one brand for mead enthusiasts to go back to time and time again!
A Caramelised Drink for Those With a Sweet Tooth
Although a bit more expensive than some other meads on this list, keep in mind that Chalice Mead endeavour to give annual donations from sales to bees charities – so purchasing this bottle with help the bees out too!
Enjoy the Pure Taste of Honey
This golden honey mead is a real treat for those looking to indulge in more traditional flavours. It comes from a company whose mission is to promote the conservation of bee populations, producing a wide range of honeys and beeswax goods, alongside their high quality, premium meads.
It undoubtedly tastes of honey, without being overly sweet, making it a top choice for both newbies and connoisseurs alike. For a very reasonable price, we highly recommend sharing a bottle amongst friends.
A Fruity Mead for Any Time of the Year
If you're partial to a fruity cocktail, it could also be used to create a variety of unique recipes in order to give them a sweet berry taste. Pair it with meat, cheese or chocolate for a treat for the taste buds!
Delicate Herbal Mead With Elderflower Cordial
This mead is what's known as a 'metheglin' - a variety of mead which has been made using herbs and honey. The elderflowers used in this delicate springtime brew are freshly picked from a meadow near the meadery and boiled to produce a cordial that's added to the fermentation process.
Lancashire Mead Company aims to produce mead that's as pure as possible, bottling each one manually for a handmade, artisanal product. If you're looking for the genuine article, you can't get much better than this!
A Crisp Mead for Fans of White Wine
If you enjoy a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, you'll want to try this crisp, dry mead from Kinsale Mead Co. Their Atlantic Dry is made using fermented orange blossom honey, for a citrusy taste with almost no sweetness.
Matured for 12 months, it makes the perfect accompaniment when paired with olives, fresh seafood or cured meats. However, this is the least traditional as far as 'traditional' meads go, so if you're looking for one with a strong honey flavour, you may want to give it a miss.
Lighter and Fruitier Than Regular Mead
If you’re looking for the real mead hall, bar brawl, Scandinavian honey-wine this won’t be for you, but is nevertheless a great choice for those who are interested in trying out this mead from an island with such history.
A Sweet Mead Fermented With Cherries
If the name hasn't caught your attention, the taste certainly will! Viking blood is a variety of melomel that's wild fermented with cherries. This means that instead of adding yeast, the natural yeast from the fruit is used in the fermentation process.
This choice would suit those wanting to try flavours other than the typical honey, although it won’t be best for those looking for a more traditional drink. Nevertheless, the cherry flavour makes it a great beverage for the summer. Served chilled, it can be savoured with a variety of dishes such as salads and desserts, as well as on it’s own.
How Should You Drink Mead?
You can drink mead straight or use it to mix a multitude of cocktails. Similar to wine, it's best to savour mead in order to get the most out of the flavours.
Can Mead Be Served Warm?
You can drink mead hot or cold according to preference. If you enjoy mulled wine, try mead heated to 50 – 55°C for a nice seasonal beverage, but be careful not to warm to over 60°C as it will start to lose flavour! Cold mead is best at 12 – 16°C straight from the fridge.
Written and researched by Brigid Bernard
Top 5 Meads
No. 1: Lyme Bay｜Traditional Mead
No. 2: Lyme Bay｜Moniack Mead
No. 3: Lyme Bay Winery｜Rhubarb Mead
No. 4: Chalice Mead Company｜Caramel Mead
No. 5: Honig Klause Heidenau｜Premium Honey Mead
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