Kinsale Mead Company

’Protinus aerii mellis caelestia dona exsequar…’
‘Next I'd like to discuss heavenly honey, that celestial bounty’
Virgil, Georgics IV

The history of mead goes back more than nine thousand years, with a long Irish history too, thanks to the tradition of beekeeping in these islands.

There are many styles including meads with fruit, spices and herbs but once most of the fermentable sugars come from honey, then it’s a mead.

It is said thirty days or a moon’s supply of mead was given to newlyweds to ensure a successful and fruitful marriage, hence the name honeymoon.

Try this light and lively beverage in situations where a dry sherry, or zesty young white wine might work well: with nuts and snacks, with seafood or perhaps a lemon tart or similar dessert.

Great Taste ★ 2021 ‘rich ripe strawberries and honey…extremely enticing.’

Joining the Atlantic Dry and Wild Red meads in the range from Denis and Kate Dempsey's Kinsale Mead Company is the berrylicious Hazy Summer mead, which combines a Spanish honey mead base with ‘a tumble’ of strawberries, raspberries, blackcurrants, blackberries, blueberries and cherries.

Like the company's Wild Red Mead, this is a melomel or fruit mead type where the berries lend acidity, colour and tannins to the finished drink. Though this is delicious by itself, with ripe strawberry and raspberry character to the fore, it makes a very attractive long drink over ice or mixed with a sparkling wine.

Blas na hÉireann SILVER 2021

The history of mead goes back more than nine thousand years, with a long Irish history too thanks to the tradition of apiculture in these islands.

There are many styles including meads with fruit, spices and herbs but once most of the fermentable sugars come from honey, then it’s a mead.

It is said thirty days or a moon’s supply of mead was given to newlyweds to ensure a successful and fruitful marriage, hence the name honeymoon.

With their handsome and distinctive packaging, a few bottles would certainly make a great and unusual wedding gift.

The Kinsale Mead Company's Wild Red Mead is a melomel or fruit mead type, made from a dark forest honey from Spain, tart blackcurrants and sweet cherries to give a zesty fruity aroma and a long finish. Delicious chilled, this is also great at room temperature for more pronounced aromas. The Wild Red Mead is a great match for snacks and simple meat and cheese dishes.

Salty sea breezes reach inland to the company's Kinsale meadery, which is just a stroll from the harbour and town centre.

Each honey has its own character. The bees of The Chanting Bee Apiary in West Cork visit hawthorn, wild clover and bramble flowers (amongst others) on their travels, and their honey is an expression of the summer wildflowers of the area.

This limited edition, released in April 2021, expresses that unique local quality in a semi-sweet, pale golden mead with delicate honey flavours and 11% abv.

Enjoy it on its own lightly chilled, or as an accompaniment to mild, creamy desserts or a fresh goat's cheese, where its subtle charm won't be overwhelmed.

Irish Food Writers’ Guild Drink of the Year 2020

The Kinsale Mead Company's Wild Red Mead brings together the natural richness of forest honey, blackcurrants and cherries in a warming interpretation of an ancient drink.

This numbered bottle is one of a limited release of Wild Red enhanced by careful maturing in French oak barrels previously used to age Merlot fruit for grape wine.

The lively, juicy red fruit flavours and balancing richness from the honey combine smoothly in a fine, mellow red mead that should be served cool, on its own or as an accompaniment to meals with subtle flavours.

The Kinsale Mead Company have recently revived the ancient art of mead-making with flair and finesse in equal measure. To build on the success of their established favourites—Atlantic Dry and Wild Red—Kate and Denis Dempsey have begun to add a new dimension with the use of wine and port barrels for finishing their fine meads.

The White Port Barrel Aged limited edition of the Atlantic Dry style is a richer, more spicy drink than its parent.

It has the same delicate character of flowers, honey and citrus on the nose, but even there there's a hint of the fuller, more mellow personality of this limited edition.

The citrus notes round out into apricots and spice on the palate, with toasty, nutty flavours that balance sweetness and zesty acidity.

The Kinsale Mead Company have recently revived the ancient art of mead-making with flair and finesse in equal measure. To build on the success of their established favourites—Atlantic Dry and Wild Red—Kate and Denis Dempsey have begun to add a new dimension with the use of wine and port barrels for finishing their fine meads.

Based on the Atlantic Dry recipe, the Sauternes Barrel Aged edition is a three year old traditional mead made from orange blossom honey. It's fermented into a dry, crisp and honeyed drink and conditioned for the last twelve months before release in a wine barrel of French oak previously used for Sauternes, the celebrated dessert wine.

The spirit of the Sauternes lends structure and new shades of flavour to what is already a unique mead.

Characterized by honey and almond notes and a fragrance of honeysuckle and white flowers, this balanced, silky dry mead has fresh citrus on the palate and a long, subtle finish thanks to its time spent in the barrel.

‘Floral and scented with layers of honey, toasted nuts and citrus peel. Intriguing and delicious. Try with strong cheeses—it would be great with blue cheese.’
John Wilson, Irish Times