From getreading.co.uk
One British drinks entrepreneur believes the historical elixir is making a comeback
Mead stands as an historical elixir, weaving its way through the tapestry of human civilisations for over 9,000 years. With evidence of its consumption found across diverse ancient cultures in Asia, Europe, and Africa, "honey wine" doesn't require specific topography or climate conditions.
The traditional drink is enjoying a renaissance as British drinkers take inspiration from TV shows like Lord of the Rings and Vikings. And one man is very keen on helping that comeback.
Peter Taylor launched York-based meadery Nidhoggr Mead Co in 2020. He recently appeared on BBC1’s Dragons' Den and despite not securing investment, he says he's seen his business go from strength to strength.
The traditional 'nectar of the gods' mead is brewed with just three ingredients: Yorkshire honey, mineral water and yeast. He said: “my mother-in-law has been making mead as a hobby for 15 years and when lockdown hit, I decided to give it a go too. I live with ADHD and so I became hyper-focused on achieving the perfect combination of honey and water. The plan was to create a side hustle so that I could buy a new sword. Quite quickly, I was able to buy five!”
Peter’s break came at a Viking event in between lockdowns later that year, where he sampled the mead. Peter added:: “A representative from Jorvik Viking Centre in York was at the event who suggested we should start selling it. A few months later, the attraction became our very first customer!”
Nidhoggr Mead Co quickly transformed from a hobby into a small business, with Peter's house becoming a meadery. Peter said: “There was honey in the bathtub, mead fermenting on the dining room table, the side-hustle had already taken over the house!
Peter is now running Nidhoggr Mead Co from a 4,000 square metre site in Pocklington, East Yorkshire, and since 2020, he has more than tripled production to 50,000 bottles a year, secured shelf space in Morrisons and even started exporting to the US. The business is now worth £3million.
Peter confesses that mead hasn’t always had the best reputation: “Mead is one of the world’s oldest alcoholic drinks,” he said. “It’s made from honey, water and sometimes added spices and fruits. Vikings were famed for their love of alcohol and would brew different drinks for different occasions. Mead was saved for feasts and celebrations, as it was so expensive to make. Sadly, as it has evolved, mead has been known to sometimes be a little bit sickly.
"Some lower quality ‘meads’ have a white wine base, add sugar, or are over-flavoured, which means they aren’t an authentic mead. We pride Nidhoggr Mead Co in producing authentic British mead which is created through the fermentation of honey. It’s tasty, pure and a very different, versatile drink.”
Its latest innovation, Nidhoggr Mead Co Blueberry and Blackcurrant Mead is the first of its kind. It combines Nidhoggr’s traditional honey mead with hints of berries to create a refreshingly tart and fruity drink.
Three very modern Mead cocktails to try this summer:
Odin’s Eye
Odin’s Eye is a short drink which combines the warmth of brandy and mead with a hint of citrus, perfect for a late, summer’s evening. Nidhoggr’s signature, traditional mead is used for a sweet, classic taste and finish.
Ingredients
25ml Nidhoggr Mead Co Traditional Mead
25ml Brandy
25ml Honey
Orange, to garnish
Method: Combine all ingredients and stir well, before finishing with a squeeze of fresh orange, dropping the orange in for extra flavour.
Sif’s Dream
Sif’s Dream is a Viking take on a refreshing prosecco cooler. It uses Nidhoggr’s Raspberry and Lemon Mead for a sweet, tangy flavour which combines with the crisp Prosecco.
Ingredients
75ml Nidhoggr Raspberry And Lemon Mead
25ml fresh lemon
100ml Prosecco
Soda water top
Method: Combine all ingredients and stir well, before finishing with a shot of soda water
Baldur’s Garden
