Aroma: “Strong honey aroma up front with fruit esters, slight musk and phe- nolics, and a touch of alcohol hotness. Hint of citrus and floral notes in the finish plus a touch of pinesol or acetone. Sweet, spicy caramelized honey and moderate oxidation."

Flavor: “Spicy notes up front with strong sweetness and fruity esters, plus a bit of oxidation. Strong honey, very sweet with balancing acidity, only a bit cloying. Off- notes of cooked honey, very faint mold, and some autolysis, but still smooth with a bit of citrus acid to balance the finish. Lightly floral honey with spicy phenolic note to the moderately warming alcohol.”

Overall: “A full-bodied dessert mead that’s sweet and strong, but relatively well balanced. The very slight acetone and pinesol notes can be a bit off-putting, but the honey sweetness is pleasant and well presented. A strong but otherwise clean and sweet honey sipper—the more I drink, the more the aroma dominates the experience.”