Litha Harvest – Summer 2016

As I’ve said many times, the past couple of years have slowed down dramatically in terms of how much mead I’ve made. This is my first bottling session in over a year, and represents most of my meadmaking from 2015. That said, all 3 batches shown here came out amazingly well, among the best I’ve ever made:

From left: Luna Bochet, Mani Trad, Chaga Spruce
From left: Luna Bochet, Mani Trad, Chaga Spruce

The Luna Bochet and Mani Trad are basically the exact same recipe, just that the bochet was made with caramelized honey, and also had a vanilla bean tossed in during secondary fermentation. And wow! What a flavor. The contrast between the two is intense, and both are utterly delightful. I can definitely see sharing the bochet around a Yule fireside during the winter…. it tastes almost like whiskey, but obviously without the kick of distilled alcohol. And I’ve had more people tell me my Chaga Spruce Mead is the best mead they’ve ever had than anything else I’ve done.

All three of these batches are stellar. I’m very happy to have them bottled, ready to share at a fireside near you.

Litha Harvest

10 bottles each of Raspberry and Blackberry Harvest, and 4 extra bottles of Longest Night Blackberry Cyser.
10 bottles each of Raspberry and Blackberry Harvest, and 4 extra bottles of Longest Night Blackberry Cyser.

I had my first bottling session in a while today. That’s kind of what happens when your production rates slow down as they have the past couple of years. Only 24 bottles, but boy are they purty. I got 10 bottles each of Blackberry & Raspberry Harvest, and another 4 bottles of Longest Night Blackberry Cyser. Yum. Used up the last of my clear bottle stash also.

In addition, I racked the Mani Trad and Luna Bochet. Wow, there is a taste difference. The Bochet is …. different. Better? I’m not sure. Both are really good though.