- Grimnir -

It was with great anticipation that I popped open this bottle - an exotic honey mead named after the father and chief of the Norse Gods, who himself is partial to a generous drop of the good stuff. Quite a name to live up to! The branding on the entire Meadhall range by Sacred Knot Tattoo is absolutely stunning, and dramatic but not overstated and it really sets the tone for what to expect.

The first thing I do when I open any bottle is to smell it! Almost like a teaser of what you might hope to find inside and Grimnir hit me with something I can only describe as an intriguing leathery aroma that didn't give much away in terms of what flavours it might hold - as enigmatic as old one eye himself...

Upon pouring the colour was bright, like highly polished gold - the finery of an esteemed and accomplished warrior king. When it came to tasting this one instinct told me that it needed a gulp rather than a sip. I'm not sure that I had an expectation in terms of flavour from this mead but what I found was a deep and sumptuous rounded ripe pear sweetness, a taste and smoothness that was bold and unfathomably deep with a long lingering and refined complexity.

I'm going to declare this my current favourite, a true king among meads that is worthy of its name.

I think what makes this mead stand out is recognition of its craft. In carving the gods I contemplate who they are and what they symbolise and represent to give them a form and identity that honours them. Whether by design or by accident this mead does exactly that for its namesake and I have all the love in the world for it!