- Apricot Mead -

This is a balanced mead, something a little different from the sweet or medium. The apricot flavour more of a subtly than an out and out stand alone concert. I would drink this mead with a nice dessert, allowing the sweetness of the mead and fruit to complement the pairing. This is one I would keep when I fancied something a little different from the usual meady picks.

I admit I am not a fan of apricot. However, this drink pleasantly surprised me and enabled me to appreciate the delicate and tasty balance of tart fruit and honey without overpowering. A well-flavoured mead, which allows the natural balance of the flavours to do the talking, this apricot mead is the perfect after-dinner drink, especially if you're in need of a talking point! If you appreciate a pleasantly unique mead, I highly recommend this drink.

I'm stepping out of my comfort zone for this review but that's kind of what I wanted to do in becoming an Afon Mel Meadiator.
I'm an unashamed purist when it comes to mead, my mead of choice is always pure honey and nothing else so I was quite proud of myself in selecting a fruit-flavoured mead for my next review, but anyway - on with the show!
The first thing I noticed on opening the bottle was a perfume more than an aroma that was bright, complex and floral with a hint of almond. Upon pouring that perfume was really abundant and I found that as I went to sip I had to pause to take it in again and again, and again.
It was a summer evening that I made the time to sample this mead, when the day was done, the light was beginning to fade, leaving its lingering warmth behind and peace reigned at Castle Gungnir ( I don't live in a castle but you know what they say about an Englishman's home).
As I sat down with Mrs Godposts and candlelight for company we took our first sip and guess what - it was full of apricot fruit! Not overly sweet, synthetic or syrupy, a real natural fresh fruit with a slight sharpness on the edge. Behind that distinct apricot sharpness, the reassuring rounded sweetness of honey providing a beautiful balance. I'd say this mead is definitely not a gulper, but worth holding in the mouth for a few seconds and really letting those contrasting flavours play out and intertwine for the full experience.
As the evening marched on we moved inside and finished the bottle with some roast lamb and found it to be the perfect accompaniment. All in all, I'm really pleased that I tried this mead and broadened my horizons, it really is a beauty and the fruit compliments rather than masks the delicate honey flavours that I seek in a good mead.
I now find myself greatly enthused about my continued adventures in the world of flavoured meads!