Honey brandy, also known as mead brandy, is an alcoholic spirit made by distilling fermented honey. It has been produced for centuries around the world and offers a unique tasting experience compared to other spirits.
How is honey brandy made?
The process of making honey brandy is similar to other distilled spirits like whiskey or brandy. It starts with fermenting honey together with water to produce mead, also known as honey wine. The mead is then distilled to concentrate the alcohol and develop the desired flavors.
The basic steps are:
- Mixing honey and water together to form a solution called must
- Adding yeast to start fermentation and convert sugars into alcohol
- Allowing the must to ferment into mead for weeks or months
- Distilling the fermented mead in a still to concentrate the alcohol
- Aging the distillate in wooden casks to develop the flavors
The specific honey and yeast strains used, as well as fermentation time, distillation method, and aging process all impact the final character and taste of the honey brandy. Distillers carefully choose ingredients and adjust techniques to achieve their desired style, balancing honey notes with the effects of oak aging.
What does honey brandy taste like?
Honey brandy has a distinctive taste that sets it apart from other spirits like cognac, whiskey, or rum. Since it is distilled from fermented honey, it carries many of the aromatic compounds from the honey into the final spirit. This gives honey brandy floral, fruity, and sweet notes complemented by complexity from oak barrel aging.
Compared to sugar-based brandies, honey brandy tends to have a richer and fuller mouthfeel. The flavors are more robust and intense, with more residual sweetness balancing out the burn of the alcohol. Honey’s natural acidity also comes through to provide a tart counterpoint.
Some common tasting notes in honey brandy include:
- Fruit flavors like apple, pear, citrus
- Floral aromas including rose, orange blossom, lavender
- Spice hints of cinnamon, clove, vanilla
- Sweet honey and beeswax
- Woody, smoky oak notes
Of course, the specific profile varies between brands based on the type of honey used, length of aging, and other production factors. For example, a honey brandy made from wildflower honey may taste quite different from one made using buckwheat honey.
How is honey brandy consumed?
Honey brandy’s rich, smooth taste makes it very versatile for drinking on its own or pairing with foods in cocktails. Here are some popular ways to enjoy honey brandy:
- Neat or on the rocks – Honey brandy can be sipped neat at room temperature or over ice to enjoy its pure flavors.
- Cocktails – Its sweetness balances well in classic cocktails like the Bee’s Knees, Gold Rush, or Violent Fashion.
- Digestif – Serving honey brandy after dinner helps aid digestion.
- Dessert pairing – Its notes of honey, fruit, and spice complement sweet desserts like cakes, custards, and fruit tarts.
- Cheese pairing – Soft cheeses like camembert, brie, and blue cheese make delicious partners for honey brandy.
When serving honey brandy neat, a tulip-shaped copita glass or snifter allows you to appreciate its aromas. For cocktails, brandy glasses or rocks glasses work well. An ideal serving temperature is around 60°F (16°C).
Popular brands of honey brandy
Some top producers of honey brandy include:
| Brand | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bärenjäger | Germany | Blend of honey brandies aged in oak casks |
| Medovukha | Russia | Distilled from fermented honey and herbs |
| Krupnik | Poland | Spiced honey brandy with vanilla and cinnamon |
| Drambuie | Scotland | Honey and herbs aged in Scotch whisky casks |
| Bäska Droppar | Sweden | Flavored with herbs and orange zest |
These leading brands highlight the diversity of honey brandy styles around the world. Some are smooth and floral, while others feature spiced flavors or a blend with other aged spirits.
History of honey brandy
Humans have been fermenting honey for thousands of years. The ancient Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, and Chinese all produced crude forms of mead. But distilling mead into true honey brandy likely emerged in Medieval Europe around the 12th century CE.
Early forms of distillation were primitive and used to create medicinal spirits. But brandy production spread across Europe and evolved to make refined spirits for drinking. Cognac began developing in France, while northern European cultures like Poland, Sweden, and Russia used local honeys to distill their own unique honey brandies.
In the 15th-16th centuries, improved distillation methods helped popularize fruit brandies. Honey brandy was still produced but became less common than brandies made from grapes, apples, pears, and plums.
But in the late 19th and 20th centuries, honey brandy experienced a resurgence. Commercial production expanded with central European brands like Bärenjäger introducing honey brandy to wider audiences.
Today it occupies a small but vibrant niche in the spirits landscape. Artisanal distillers are exploring new styles and innovations to build on the long, sweet history of transforming honey into brandy.
How does honey brandy differ from mead?
While honey brandy starts out as mead, the distillation process transforms it into an entirely different drink. Here are some of the key differences between mead and honey brandy:
| Mead | Honey Brandy | |
|---|---|---|
| ABV | 5-15% | 35-50% |
| Process | Fermented | Distilled |
| Taste | Sweet, honey | Dry, oaky |
| Consumption | Served chilled | Served at room temp |
The key distinction is that mead stops at fermentation, while honey brandy takes the additional step of distillation. This gives honey brandy a much higher alcohol content, more complex flavors, and a less sugary profile. While mead is served chilled like wine, honey brandy is better at room temperature to appreciate the richer aromas.
Conclusion
Honey brandy is a unique spirit that offers an intriguing tasting experience through its floral, fruity honey notes, complemented by the mellowing effects of barrel aging. Its versatility for sipping neat or mixing in cocktails makes it worth trying for any spirits enthusiast looking to expand their horizons beyond standard fare. While not as common as some brandies, honey brandy’s alluring flavor profile ensures it will continue to have devoted fans across the globe.