Empire Royal Mead

Brewed by Empire Winery & Distillery (T&W Brand)
Style: Mead
New Port Richey, Florida USA

Serve in Snifter

Bottle, courtesy of darkguardian. Clear amber pour with no head. Sweet honey, honey dew, and raspberry aromas. Very smooth with flavors that match the nose.

A suprising and amazing mead from a local Florida meadery that was gone for awhile but is now back again (thankfully). Pours a clear dark amber. Nose is absolutely amazing, equal to if not better than Apis. I am guessing Orange Blossom Honey but I get suggestions of cinnamon and clove which suggest Tupelo. Extremely smooth and with absolutely no off flavors at all. Finishes with lingering honeyed biscuits, orange and berry and light cinnamon. Finish is full and long lasting. Damn! What a mead! Didn’t expect this sort of quality from a local meadery. I’ll be keeping this around constantly because its not terrible expensive either.

Out fuckin standing mead. Thanks Mark for the share. This is honeycomb, super sweet, and smooth. Too sweet for some I’m sure but a tip-top mead in my book.

This mead is delicious; one of the best I’ve ever tasted. The look is just like SoCo, syrupy and caramel-hued, with legs. The aroma is pure delicious honey, not too far off the smell of Tupelo. The taste is pure nectar. Gustatory suggestions include a melange of wildflower, orange blossom, clover and grass, slight tannins, and a touch of Sam Adams Utopias. So delicious; I’d say its a great sipper, but its hard not to slug down gulps at a time.

Bottle from Leuken’s. I have had meads before, but this one blew me away. Pours a still deep caramel/ amber color. Nose is deep, earthy honey that still has the comb attached- bits of vanilla, sweet citrus, and vanilla. Flavor is liquid gold- layers upon layers of honey, honeycomb, and booze. Huge legs. The flavor and mouthfeel reminded me of a brandy that was made with honey. The finish is immense and lingers like a symphony. Outstanding mead.

Enjoyed this one several years ago when I tasted it. They disappeared for a bit but boy am I glad they are back. Pours a beautiful clear golden hue. Aromas of comb honey, maple, and a touch of toffee. The flavor is pure honey sweetness. Once again I will go with comb honey, earthy, waxy, and sweet. There are candied undertones as well. Notes of brown sugar, maple and toffee. The body is nice and thick like it should be. Not a bit of alcohol can be detected. This is pure and awesome. Has the quality that can be found only in the best Polish meads. Love it, and very very very very happy it has returned to the shelf.

Bottle sampled at the Mead Mountain tasting on 1/8/11. Clear viscous brown color, like maple syrup but not quite as thick. Decadent honey aroma that is creamy and syrupy. Flavor is honey and maple syrup. Very sweet, but drinkable.

UPDATED: FEB 9, 2011 Sample at the Mead Molehill tasting on 01/10/2011. Mostly clear dark amber color with minimal head and nil lace. Nice buttery honey aroma. Medium body with flavors of sweet honey, fruits and spices. The finish is sweet and leaves a lingering honey and spice aftertaste. Good overall.