1 AUGUST 2022 08:00
Afon Mêl, pushing their own boundaries in their pursuit for quality mead have developed an exclusive range of individual meads matured in the traditional way. In these meads, time plays an important part in the process; not only in the time given to the meads to mature, but in the selected barrels used in the process.
The first two products in this Limited edition collection are built on their Great Taste, Golden Fork winner, Heather Mead. Working with with another prestigious Welsh brand, Penderyn Distillery their meads have been finished in both ex Madeira and ex bourbon Oak barrels that have previously been used for Welsh whisky maturation.
Sam Cooper, owner and head mead-maker at Afon Mêl said, “This collection of small batch meads includes the two products matured in ex Bourbon and ex Madeira barrels which have been used at Penderyn to mature their Welsh whisky, once emptied are filled with mead. What comes out is wonderfully and subtly different to what goes in”
The provenance of the barrels; first Bourbon or Madeira, then Penderyn Single Malt Welsh whisky, makes a hugely significant difference to the overall taste of Afon Mêl meads. The mead matured in Madeira barrels is very different from the mead matured in the bourbon barrels. They are both refined but also very distinctive.
Experimenting on a barrel share basis with the Award winning Penderyn Distillery was something very important to the brand and has been in Afon Mêl’s planning for the last 5 years.
Sam also added, “All the new meads created allow us to explore different mead making methods, with these small batch meads we can showcase a new and exciting side to Afon Mel’s Meads.”
The barrel sharing arrangement with Penderyn is a further step up in Afon Mêl’s quest to produce the finest meads possible.
We can barely contain our excitement at learning this week's news that we've been shortlisted in three categories for The Great British Food Awards 2022!
BEST NEW PRODUCT 2022
Limited edition Heather mead finished in a Penderyn Whisky Madeira barrel
ENGLISH & WELSH WINE 2022
Limited edition Heather mead finished in a Penderyn Whisky Madeira barrel
BEST BRITISH SPECIALITY 2022
Limited edition Heather mead finished in a Penderyn Whisky Bourbon barrel
As you can imagine, considering we haven't even launched the new products yet we are over the moon to be given this recognition of our success so far and we can't wait for the awards results...fingers crossed!
Alongside the build-up, to releasing the new range Afon Mêl will be running The Hive Club- an opportunity for 5 individuals and 5 businesses to try the new small-batch products before sale through entering online. With only 400 bottles of each produced not only will the selected Hive Club members get to try it first but also will get full exclusivity in being able to order the new limited edition meads. The Hive Club applications close on Monday 22nd August at 9 am.
If you’d like further information on The Hive Club please click here
The Great Taste Golden Fork for the best food or drink from Wales was presented to our “really impressive” 13% ABV Heather Mead. “Smooth and easy to drink with lovely honey tones”, this mead is “crisp, balanced and rounded with an almost sherry-like dryness on the finish”, making it the ideal partner for cheese.
