I turned a Bucket Of Honey Into Mead & Distilled It

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ก.ย. 2024
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    I have always wanted to make mead and distil it. Today I FINALLY got to give it a try. But will the taste and smell of honey make it through into the finally spirit?
    Recipe:
    15 gallons / 56 l of water
    39 lb / 17.7 kg
    2.1 oz / 60 g Fermaid K (I had to use O )
    4 packets of Lalvin 71B Narbonne yeast
    Dissolve the Honey in the yeast, make sure to mix it vigorously to get as much oxygen into it as possible (right before pitching the yeast).
    Let it ferment until dry (close to 1.00 on a hydrometer).
    Distill, your option of full stripping run and spirit run (double pot stilled). I did a "one and a half run" with 1 plate.
    Make solid cuts. If you want to follow along with me age at 54% abv / 108 proof with second use US white oak.
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ความคิดเห็น • 1.2K

  • @StillIt
    @StillIt  3 ปีที่แล้ว +63

    Get your own kick-ass shirt from Into The AM here:
    intotheam.com/CTC

    • @milesjohnson4526
      @milesjohnson4526 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Those are some sweet cloths man. Will be buying

    • @vagabondwastrel2361
      @vagabondwastrel2361 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I have a really weird idea but hear me out. use some in a brine to pickle cucumbers.

    • @joe8172
      @joe8172 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      You should do a colab with Paul from Hives Manawatu. Not only does he have great honey, he also makes tasty mead :)

    • @Pub2k4
      @Pub2k4 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Use the leftover product to make the mead equivalent of apple pie moonshine… I guess since mead is just honey wine, the distilled product is a brandy…. So an apple pie brandy

    • @peterrobak
      @peterrobak 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      I live in Asia & can get a lot of durian. Can you tell me what yeast to use, how much sugar, & fruit to add to a 1 gallon mash?

  • @hivesmanawatu3337
    @hivesmanawatu3337 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1038

    Hey there! Glad you finally got around to this video! You had a lot going on when we last talked, including a full time job - I didn't realise it had been that long though.
    From memory that honey is from Ballance Valley - primarily a pasture honey, likely with some bush honey (Rewarewa is common in that valley and has a malty caramel flavour). Our honey has minimal processing and is generally kept to small regional batches so it usually has a lot more flavour than the supermarket stuff. Really cool to hear how much of that honey flavour and character made it through the still. It should be really nice after oaking
    Paul

    • @mndlessdrwer
      @mndlessdrwer 3 ปีที่แล้ว +44

      I'm glad you were able to make this kind of video happen through your generous gift of honey. It was a fun watch.

    • @nzbeeman
      @nzbeeman 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      The way Jessie described it I thought it may have been a kamahi blend. It doesn't look too dark so probably not too much Rewarewa in the mix

    • @venividicredi4993
      @venividicredi4993 3 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      Looks like the extra bottle needs to be tasted by the Manawatu beekeper - b4 being reproduced and added to inventory for the online shop

    • @emilewilmar4919
      @emilewilmar4919 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Rewarewa honey was my favourite honey for mead, this stuff looks great

    • @_Gecko
      @_Gecko 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I didn’t even realize there were different types of honey, cool

  • @bluejacketapiary9170
    @bluejacketapiary9170 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

    Not a drinker but I am a beekeeper. A couple thoughts from the honey side. Try this with a spring harvested honey and a fall harvested honey. In my area, Typically they are night and day different. Spring=light, fruity, and floral honey. Spring is when flowers, fruit trees, etc are blooming. Fall=earthy, dark, “dirty”, almost molasses flavored honey. That’s when I see more weeds blooming and crops like buckwheat which makes an almost black (think char brown) honey.

  • @ninjakiwi1324
    @ninjakiwi1324 3 ปีที่แล้ว +655

    put it in a port barrel. that would match well with the floral honey.

    • @nathanhowell9548
      @nathanhowell9548 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      I agree.

    • @blackbaron9544
      @blackbaron9544 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Second this, would love to see how it turns out

    • @Tangowastaken
      @Tangowastaken 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      This!

    • @chrisreid2113
      @chrisreid2113 3 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      Just did honey wash and double distilled then put it down on brandy soaked staves. Both French and US oak

    • @AndreKrugerDeToledo
      @AndreKrugerDeToledo 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      amburana barel please (braziliam wood)

  • @enric.7814
    @enric.7814 3 ปีที่แล้ว +42

    You could try to fortify a mead when it is at 3-8% and stop the fermentation with the honey spirit to make a port style mead and than age that on French Oak. Could come out very interesting.

  • @MethodtotheMeadness
    @MethodtotheMeadness 3 ปีที่แล้ว +459

    It was great working with you on this!

    • @MethodtotheMeadness
      @MethodtotheMeadness 3 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      It doesn't actually surprise me how much of the honey character is coming through especially on the nose. When I take a mead to complete dryness, the nose ALWAYS starts off with a sweet STRONG honey note.

    • @Cliff82
      @Cliff82 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Do you ever use DADY to make mead with? I'm trying it out for the first time and from what I've gathered I'm expecting close to 20%.

    • @MethodtotheMeadness
      @MethodtotheMeadness 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @@Cliff82 I haven't. Wine yeasts are more my wheelhouse for now. Looking for info on flavor profiles and esters from other yeast strains to better match what I'm shooting for.

    • @sheldoniusRex
      @sheldoniusRex 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Are there any other fruits which go well with honey which can be used to provide nutrients to the yeast? I'm thinking of fermenting with some orange and lemon in the brewer. Do those fruits work as well in a brew as they do elsewhere?
      What about tea? I like honey in hot tea, would tea in the mead be just as good?

    • @MethodtotheMeadness
      @MethodtotheMeadness 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      @@sheldoniusRex Great questions! Citrus is a bit tricky since honey's already fairly acidic. If you add wedges without squeezing them, it'll introduce the acidity slowly enough to allow for a clean fermentation, and the fruits DO provide good nutrient for the yeast.
      Tea is good, but make sure you can remove it before too long or it will bitter after a few days (as oversteeped tea is wont to do). You could also make the tea ahead of time and use in place of water (at a weaker concentration than you would drink as regular tea).

  • @WaydUncaged
    @WaydUncaged 3 ปีที่แล้ว +20

    For the guys that have been here for a while you’re probably used to it but I’m brand new. I just learned about his laugh.

  • @josephbrooks3980
    @josephbrooks3980 3 ปีที่แล้ว +455

    I made "honeyshine", as i call it and it was delicious by itself but i also took some and back sweetened it with the original honey which reinforced all those floral sweet and honey notes. I loved it! Just an idea to try 😁

    • @stevepenney2073
      @stevepenney2073 3 ปีที่แล้ว +15

      wheres the love button

    • @ginsengaddict
      @ginsengaddict 3 ปีที่แล้ว +31

      Seconding this. A liqueur made from honey based on distilled mead is such a honey-ception concept, it sounds too good not to try.

    • @RoraighPrice
      @RoraighPrice 3 ปีที่แล้ว +22

      oh man, can you imagine, rest the "HoneyShine" in new french oak. then taking a 2nd batch of the same honey, making a beer from it and ageing it in the same used honeyd oak barrel.

    • @WhiteWolfeHU
      @WhiteWolfeHU 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Yeah it’s called mead, you make mead and drink it. You made honey flavored hard liquor. Because you know more alcohol equals more good so keep killing your liver! 👍🏻
      What a fucking waste of mead.

    • @stevepenney2073
      @stevepenney2073 3 ปีที่แล้ว +37

      @@WhiteWolfeHU you need a suppository

  • @vialb2
    @vialb2 3 ปีที่แล้ว +60

    Just keep a sample (250 ml or so) in dollar store bottle just to compare with whatever you do with the rest. It’ll always be a good reference for long term aging and see how your product evolves.

  • @dansarmar1
    @dansarmar1 3 ปีที่แล้ว +81

    I distill my mead in reflux mode and get 95% ABV spirit. I then use it as a base spirit for Gin. The honey profile is subtle and makes for a very nice product.

    • @mndlessdrwer
      @mndlessdrwer 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      That sounds like it would be delicious if you can keep the juniper flavor from overwhelming everything. One of my favorite gins is a pretty Japanese Gin because it has an attractive floral component to it. Adding back in just a tiny bit of honey would also help reinforce those flavors even further.

    • @verneblestien315
      @verneblestien315 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      I enjoy a honey gin, Barr Hill Gin out of Vermont.

    • @joeclifford183
      @joeclifford183 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      @@mndlessdrwer that sounds like the Roku, one of my favourites too. I’ve always wanted to get into distilling, maybe once my kids grow up and I have more time haha. This inspires me though.

    • @mndlessdrwer
      @mndlessdrwer ปีที่แล้ว

      @@joeclifford183 yep, that's it. It comes in an absolutely beautiful bottle and tastes quite delightful even to the me who drank too much gin in college and grew to be a bit nauseated at the taste of it thanks to some unpleasant overconsumption. It's all about the balance of juniper flavor compared to everything else. If the juniper really jumps out as the only particularly prominent flavor then I can't really drink it...

    • @joeclifford183
      @joeclifford183 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@mndlessdrwer yep I hear ya. My wife loves gin but doesn’t love those heavy on the juniper. I love bathtub, that’s heavy on the juniper but is smooth and doesn’t rely solely on juniper to carry it home.

  • @Vykk_Draygo
    @Vykk_Draygo 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Raisins != nutrient. Fermaid O is the best product to use. Fermaid K containts DAP, which isn't the best for making mead. Fermaid O is purely organic sources of amino nitrogen (versus the urea in DAP), so the yeast can metabolize it better. Raisins don't do jack, except impart a bit of tannin and flavor. Especially not just 25 of them.
    I personally prefer EC-1118, or Kveik for mead, but 71B is fine. I've used it. Doesn't ferment as cleanly as EC-1118 (more off flavors), but the esters are good. Both require aging before it hits peak anyhow, so those off flavor dissipate. Kveik is great for excellent mead in just about a month or two, rather than 6 months to a year.

  • @shortforcalamity
    @shortforcalamity 3 ปีที่แล้ว +15

    I've brewed a couple meads and I find French oak works wonders for my brews, I add about 20g of medium toast chips per 5L for a week and that seems to do the trick. It imparts a light woodiness and really lets that characteristic vanilla flavour of the French oak shine through

  • @ChrisVZ77
    @ChrisVZ77 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Currently doing my first ever distilling run using some orange blossom mead I made 3 years ago. I’m extremely impressed with what I am collecting. Nice light honey flavor with barely any alcohol taste straight from the still. Gonna be hard to keep this around for very long.

  • @ziggybarth5026
    @ziggybarth5026 3 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    Finally!! Very few people have done this and recorded it, thankyou

  • @oyeatia3844
    @oyeatia3844 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    So I watched this back in July out on a job, I'm a homebrewer but work doesn't let me be home as much as I'd like. I missed out on a beekeeping apprenticeship for work, but I was able to get a LOAD of honey and just today I did my first run of mead (vinegar and sacrifice not included) and I was just as astonished as you about the honey notes!
    Thank you and all that are like you for providing us lurking homebrewers with quality advice and reassurance brother.

  • @MisplacedAmerican
    @MisplacedAmerican 3 ปีที่แล้ว +28

    As a huge mead fan, this definitely got my attention.
    I think it would be great to keep the clean 2.4 run as it is to see how it mellows out (if at all) over time and compare it to the oaked version. I bet this would make an amazing Mint Julep in the summer.
    If you can spare a small test, might I suggest making some basilcello, I make my own limoncello from time to time and I was amazed at how well this basilcello went down (ignore the green swamp color and careful not to over sweeten it)

  • @TalKScribe
    @TalKScribe ปีที่แล้ว +33

    Step 1: Grow a beard.

    • @Aaron-bq9my
      @Aaron-bq9my 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Accurate

  • @kaecycorbin6399
    @kaecycorbin6399 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    US mead-maker here. I've been thoroughly enjoying your videos, and they've been tickling my interest in distilling. But this video right here has got me wanting to jump on in and buy a still just so I can taste what you've made! You've also earned my subscription - RIP my wallet (and liver)!

    • @rayfox212
      @rayfox212 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Start watching barley and hops, bearded and bored, beaver diy as well and you will definitely kiss your wallet good bye. But it's just so darn much fun. Hope you jump down the rabbit hole and enjoy. Happy distilling.

  • @KevinKos
    @KevinKos 3 ปีที่แล้ว +30

    Mead is such a great drink! I helped my friend, who's a beekeeper, with creating delicious mead with some wormwood and my next video will be using that in a bee-inspired Negroni. Thanks for leaving a comment on my channel, it brought me here and you've got some awesome content! Keep it up, brother.

    • @MethodtotheMeadness
      @MethodtotheMeadness 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      ooo I'll have to check out that mead cocktail video!

  • @microwavedsoda
    @microwavedsoda 3 ปีที่แล้ว +15

    so weird. I just finished the Pillars of The Earth book and that got me wondering how mead was made and here you are. Amazing

    • @StillIt
      @StillIt  3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Now thats a good book!

    • @MethodtotheMeadness
      @MethodtotheMeadness 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Do they happen to describe the mead in this? Asking for a friend 😂

    • @microwavedsoda
      @microwavedsoda 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@MethodtotheMeadness Just that King Stephen's guard had a massive hangover from too much wine and mead

    • @microwavedsoda
      @microwavedsoda 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@StillIt its the best I have ever read.

    • @MethodtotheMeadness
      @MethodtotheMeadness 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@microwavedsoda I'll still give it a read, can't ignore these recommendations, but I was hoping to get some more content out of it.

  • @sellitbetter
    @sellitbetter 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    As a mead maker myself, you should do a plum or cherry wood, for about a month or so and then check it it will play very well with those flora notes and help bring out that chocolate flavor you mentioned at the honey tasting.

  • @BeardedBored
    @BeardedBored 3 ปีที่แล้ว +91

    I've always wanted to try this. Very cool to know that you can get so much flavor back. I'm voting for Cherry and Manuka wood:-)

    • @brandongreene9615
      @brandongreene9615 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      You gotta try the sassafras thing man haha

    • @wiseguysoutdoors2954
      @wiseguysoutdoors2954 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      I was thinking that, or maple, with the sweetness of the honey. Medium toast might've interesting. Might have vacation this fall, may head for Texas. Love to get together with you and George if possible.

    • @tomblankendaal3228
      @tomblankendaal3228 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Well please do try...
      Different honeys from different places taste nothing the same. But they're all so sweet. What if Beaver joined in and we could have a comparison around the world?

    • @jasonpowell8582
      @jasonpowell8582 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Send me a message Bearded. I “hypothetically” might have what you need.

    • @ljlj4510
      @ljlj4510 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Blend it with some of the peach brandy 👌🏻

  • @NeutronLD50
    @NeutronLD50 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    love the countdown timer thing you were using on the top of certain parts of the video. great idea!

  • @alexmcmath4227
    @alexmcmath4227 3 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Try it on second use brandy barrel wood, honeyed brandy is a wonderful pairing

  • @billybobjones4317
    @billybobjones4317 3 ปีที่แล้ว +26

    I am a Bee Keeper and until I got my first Hive, I always thought what they sold in the SHops was real Honey.
    The first time I tasted Honey from my Hive, I was very surprised at the viscosity as well as the Colour and Flavour.
    As you described, I also tasted Caramel, something similar to the Old Hoadley's Violent Crumble minus the chocolate coating as well as a few lesser flavours I really couldn't place, until I started grinding my own Beans and bought a Coffee machine, one of the Beans I got had the same under tones as my Honey.
    I would say the combination of all the different Flowers in my area is what gives my Honey it's lesser flavours and they change depending on the time of the year as well as if it's the start of a Season, middle or end.
    I live in an area where the Bees can forage and make Honey 365 days a year.
    I now supply my whole family as well as friends with Honey as trying to eat the stuff from the Supermarkets is just impossible after eating fresh raw Honey.
    I was having about three gallons of Honey left over every harvest and was how I found Mead.
    We now no longer by Wine as I make three different meads, a More Dry version an almost draught version and a close to a Moscato version.
    I am very pleased as are our friends and family now that I discovered Mead :)
    The Bees are a great Hobby as I am retired and had some time left over each week and rather than sit and watch TV or spend more time on the computer, I found Bees to be a much healthier as well as a hobby that pays back more than it costs to start.
    Never thought about Distilling the Mead ? and is why I am watching this video :)

    • @danpszeniczny9664
      @danpszeniczny9664 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I keep bees as well and am very interested in distillation. Honeybees are a wonder to me. The bees will ferment pollen and nectar so I have to think that this aroma will permeate the hive and uncapped honey and add to the finished honey taste and smell.

    • @eknuds
      @eknuds 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I watched a documentary about how sometimes exporters to the US cut their honey with corn syrup and maybe even worse.

    • @jimathybindlenim6359
      @jimathybindlenim6359 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Please never quit you are doing the planet a solid brother 🙏 💪

  • @Half_Centaur
    @Half_Centaur 3 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    I might take a pint of the honey liquor and infuse lemon peel into it. Not the flavor profile you mentioned, but they compliment each other so well.

  • @dakota5660
    @dakota5660 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    As a guy who's spent countless hours watching beekeeping videos and uses for honey, "first year beekeeper so the vids were part of my self learning process." You are the first person I've ever come across or heard about doing this with honey! Now I want to try it

  • @danielhughes6896
    @danielhughes6896 3 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    Would love to see someone do this with Bochet, which is a mead made from caramelised honey, It has toffee/caramel/bourbon like flavours. it would be really interesting to see what it would be like distilled.

    • @tabithavanderpool418
      @tabithavanderpool418 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Oh my that sounds awesome. I've only brewed a few personal gallons but that sounds like a yummy thing to try

  • @Fenixsweden
    @Fenixsweden 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    As a homebrewer focused on mead, i´ve been looking like a madman after someone who distilled mead but to no avail! So Thank YOU!
    Been thinking to distill mead myself but since that is illegal here in sweden, i´m really glad to find this video, that makes it easier for me to decide what to to hereafter!

    • @VndNvwYvvSvv
      @VndNvwYvvSvv 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      You can build a water distiller legally though. ;)

    • @Fenixsweden
      @Fenixsweden 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@VndNvwYvvSvv true, true, would though it´d be hard to convince the police of that, if they ever came on knocking :P XD But the thought still remains, i´d really like to start a company and distill mead,,

    • @neastop
      @neastop 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@Fenixsweden Also had that thought (in Sweden). How complicated/expensive is it to get a license to distil? I've often wondered how these small distilleries (Stockolms Bränneri, Hernö etc) got started.

    • @Fenixsweden
      @Fenixsweden 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@neastop I have no idea actually. I´ve googled some questions but never really got a good answer,, been thinking about just sending an email to one of the destilleries to ask,, just haven´t gotten around to it yet,, but it is a interesting question..

  • @joe1138gz
    @joe1138gz 3 ปีที่แล้ว +47

    Jessie, you could try some traditional mead techniques like citrus zest or fruit. Personally I'd like to see you do the equivalent of an metheglin with spices and citrus zest.

    • @jammybizzle666
      @jammybizzle666 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Meddyglyn if you're using the original Welsh name :)

    • @elixwhitetail
      @elixwhitetail 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      A bochet mead (the honey is caramelized before fermentation) would be very interesting as a not-whisky, in my opinion.

    • @iAmEbolaWoT
      @iAmEbolaWoT 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I have a metheglin recipe that I created called "Panty Dropper". It is a chocolate mead. I would love to distill it and see what it taste like. Unfortunately it is illegal where I am to have a home distillery. :(

    • @sdogg73
      @sdogg73 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      I just tossed four different meads into the still at once. one of which was a spiced cyser. I basically replease all the water in my traditional mead recipe with apple juice and then add all the spices traditionally found in an apple pie. Let me tell you, those spices came through in the final product and it is delicious.

  • @jimwhipple9784
    @jimwhipple9784 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Jessie
    We've done many, many batches of Mead. We have a Great beekeeper just down the road from us
    We've also got a great friend that does organic strawberries. Done a bunch of batches and it is exquisite
    I can only imagine how that would work out if you distilled it
    Gonna do it!!!

  • @andrewwinch4602
    @andrewwinch4602 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    As a mead maker, this is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. Now I HAVE to!
    For your second jar, why not treat it like a mead and either back sweeten it with a similar honey (if you remembered what it was lol) or macerate some botanicals/fruits in it, or both?

  • @michaelhaugen9878
    @michaelhaugen9878 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Greetings. I have been brewing my own Meads now for a year and a half. I have plans in the works to do something very similar... Still a Mead. This video gives me a much better idea of what volume I need to start with to arrive at the final distilled product.

  • @walkered
    @walkered 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Fantastic as always! I love making mead! I make a rhubarb mead every other year and let it cellar for a year. So good, I think I'll have to distill a batch soon. Maybe make the mead and then distill it with the rhubarb as a vapor botanical. Hey! Maybe you could use the extra for another amazing gin experiment?

  • @russellmcgahee942
    @russellmcgahee942 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Yea I have done the Mead thing too. I did wild Flower Honey; but it seemed like it was missing something after the initial brew. I added three Spice cloves to fifteen gallons and it was outstanding. Recipe three and one half gallons of Wild Flower honey to eleven gallons of water heat to 150* F for one hour. Add hand full of chopped Raisins and three spice cloves let cool to 89 * F add distillers yeast. Let Ferment for about a month and distill. Make sure to use an air lock during fermentation between the tank and atmosphere.

  • @bourbonbrofessor9938
    @bourbonbrofessor9938 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Visited Bardstown Ky last weekend. Happened to be wearing my Still it shirt, and someone noticed it. Of course had a conversation about distillation. Imagine that! And picked up 50 pounds of malted barley cheap..

  • @RingerDaClown
    @RingerDaClown 14 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I've been making a lot of mead and have been thinking a lot about how it would work distilled. So thanks a lot for this.

  • @ancestralwisdom448
    @ancestralwisdom448 3 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    When I make mead, I throw in 1 tsp of boiled yeast and 10 whole raisins in as nutrient, and it seems to work excellently! Mixing half honey and half apple also helps the nutrient quantity, and gives you a delicious apple/honey spirit as a final product!

  • @sdogg73
    @sdogg73 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I made four batches of mead for my wedding a few years ago. Traditional, Peach, strawberry rhubarb and a spiced apple. after 2 years and having leftovers i tossed them all in the still and it came out wonderful. The best batch ive distilled to date. the spices from the spiced apple mead "cyser" came through splendidly. The final product was also surprisingly sweet. I cant wait to try another batch.

  • @user-gc9yr1be6r
    @user-gc9yr1be6r 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    This is something that I have wanted to try for a long time. I make my own mead and wonder what it would taste like using flavored meads. Particularly, one that I make from a recipe called "Viking blood" mead. Add blood oranges, cinnamon sticks, allspice, and cloves into the mead.

  • @jonmoore8916
    @jonmoore8916 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Love this! I make mead and have been talking with an acquaintes about distilling said mead.
    Idk if Balcones is available to you, but they are a distillery that is local to me and they have a similar product that is one of my favorite spirits. It is made from honey, figs and turbinado sugar. It's called Rumble! I definitely suggest checking it out.

  • @jkh4q
    @jkh4q 3 ปีที่แล้ว +18

    You should take that other honey and grab some edible flowers and herbs from a farmers market and make a super floral gin sort of thing.
    Edit: Not necessarily disincluding the option to macerate in (I would imagine) used wood chips/staves/barrel.

  • @JuanBrolo
    @JuanBrolo ปีที่แล้ว

    This coming across my suggested is so awesome lol. I've now watched 20 videos and I'm hooked. Thank you for the content. When I get paid I'll be joining the community

  • @pookymd
    @pookymd 3 ปีที่แล้ว +41

    Aging it in a bourbon barrel would be interesting. I'm thinking honey flavored bourbon (i.e. American Honey) but in reverse. Bourbon flavored honey!!!

  • @BEAVERDIY
    @BEAVERDIY 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Super video, have always wanted to do honey but so expensive.
    Cool result, on the second go for a fruity wood lioe apple or cherry.

  • @themisanthrope4646
    @themisanthrope4646 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    After watching some of your videos, my wife has downloaded divorce papers and threatened to print and file them if I do so much as a single liter of distilling.
    There is an exception to this threat! We have been looking into immigrating to New Zealand for some time now and are slowly making efforts to do so. She thinks it would be insanely awesome to learn this craft at that time. Especially because I'm a major fan of science, chemistry and general tinkering of any kind. What better way could anyone possibly think of to amuse someone like me?

  • @jimbrialinnocent3633
    @jimbrialinnocent3633 ปีที่แล้ว

    Listening to people talking about something their knowledgeable about is always amazing to me.

  • @basolisk3057
    @basolisk3057 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I'd like to point out that most "honey" sold in major stores like Walmart is not actually honey but a flavored corn syrup or something of the like. That's why there honey is 1/5 the price of a market honey and also why is won't work for mead. Glad yours was sorted from a real source 👍

  • @tday99music
    @tday99music ปีที่แล้ว

    Appreciate the honesty in advertising, glad to see the content you can share with us

  • @luiscastaneda5481
    @luiscastaneda5481 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I love brewing with honey and making meads different seasons make different honey so there are an infinite possibility for dif6floral flavors to come through

  • @mikeicnd1
    @mikeicnd1 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Retro Meadery here. This is very interesting. This would be awesome to try on all our meads especially the blueberry mead.

  • @Rubberduck-tx2bh
    @Rubberduck-tx2bh 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Sugar Maple Toast Infusion Spirals??? (they have them on AIH !!!)

  • @Fatlax73
    @Fatlax73 ปีที่แล้ว

    This is awesome!!! I love how you can tell you have been "sampling" the merchandise at the end of the video!

  • @benjaminderringer1680
    @benjaminderringer1680 3 ปีที่แล้ว +104

    Made a corn and honey mead. Aged it in new oak. It tastes like honey cornbread whiskey. On of my favorites so far!

  • @scottfenner4051
    @scottfenner4051 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    I've made 2 batches of mead and honestly it's so fun and delicious it's a very good starting wine/liquor to get going with brewing

  • @jerridschilling259
    @jerridschilling259 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    OOoo, put some Jalapeños in it and make it a slightly sweet, slightly spicy liqueur.

  • @williamtrailor9321
    @williamtrailor9321 ปีที่แล้ว

    Love the freedom units conversion. I was confused when you said liters.

  • @surgonan
    @surgonan 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Just an FYI: Most cheap store bought “honey” is really flavored corn syrup. Especially true for anything that comes in a bear.
    Real raw honey from an apiary is the best thing to get for making mead.
    I actually prefer Fermaid O, nothing wrong with Fermaid K but it uses synthetic nitrogen sources. Fermaid O is organic sources of nitrogen and dead yeast hulls. Yes, yeast are cannibals...

    • @sgarnon
      @sgarnon 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      go to local markets, theres usually a co op selling awesome honey

    • @surgonan
      @surgonan 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@sgarnon I know local bee keepers and trade cases of mead for honey.

    • @maskcollector6949
      @maskcollector6949 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      You can find Organic Grade A raw honey at the store nowadays, just buy from a local keeper.

    • @surgonan
      @surgonan 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@maskcollector6949 that’s a gimmick. There is no grading system for honey in the USA and there are no regulations for “organic honey”. Honey can’t be claimed as 100% organic, not in the traditional sense. Bees can easily collect pollen from a 5 miles radius. They are wild insects and don’t just collect pollen from “organically grown plants”.
      Companies that classify their honey as organic only do so because they can charge more from people that don’t know any difference. Again there are no regulations required to call it organic.

  • @maggiehammer9729
    @maggiehammer9729 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks for this video. It really helped my understand the cuts. I got a blue ribbon for my mead at the county fair in 1986. Now we have bees!!!!!!

  • @Tonz_of_Fun
    @Tonz_of_Fun 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    First time I've seen this channel. This man looks a modern fantasy dwarf and I appreciate that.

    • @StillIt
      @StillIt  3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Il take it! Just need some forced perspective shots to make me look 4 foot . . . .

  • @KubedPixel
    @KubedPixel 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I've only made mead once before and it was lovely. I just treated the honey as a sugar wash. Honey, water, yeast, ferment. Can't remember what the yeast was I used though. After fermentation, I just did 1 alembic run and that's it. Still had the colour and flavours.
    I'm going to do another one soon but add jasmine and thyme into the pot as it's distilling.

  • @1320crusier
    @1320crusier 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Ive been using Champagne yeast for my mead and it works pretty well.

  • @Faarby
    @Faarby 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    I've been waiting for a distilled mead video for ages

  • @Asrashas
    @Asrashas ปีที่แล้ว

    Wow. I've made some mead a couple years ago. Always wondered how it would be distilled, but didn't have the right opportunity to try it out myself.
    Huge thank you for doing this.

  • @tediffrig1336
    @tediffrig1336 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Seep tea into the clear. Made a camomile mead that is awesome. So use it as a cold brew floral tea base

  • @jkeithmacnicol80
    @jkeithmacnicol80 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    I can promise you I distilled a honey spirit almost 5 years ago. I since sold the distillery and it no longer exists. Branded Hearts Distillery in Reno, NV.
    I don’t know of anyone doing it prior.
    After I sold my portion of the distillery, they unfortunately tanked. Some one I would have hired took my formula too the next level by adding a citrus element. Super talented and in my mind greatly improved what was really quite good.
    Cheers for making this video.
    Whatever you do... don’t let your partner’s wife name this spirit. Mine ended up being called “Silver State Stinger.” I sold it out regardless, but hated the name. Distilling honey is an expensive venture, but super fun and as far as I know, beyond uncommon.
    Please contact me.

  • @HavocParadox
    @HavocParadox ปีที่แล้ว

    Orange blossom honey mead.. is fantastic.. So much flavor

  • @brockstanford7608
    @brockstanford7608 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    I live near many beekeepers, but never really gave it much thought to distill a mead and oak it. Now I'm excited to try it myself!

  • @stevepoulsen83
    @stevepoulsen83 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Very excited for this. I make a bit of mead and when i stumbled across your distilling videos the first thought was "Ooooh i can distil a mead!". Cant wait to see how it turns out after the oaking!

  • @FBPrepping
    @FBPrepping 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    34 alcohol manufacturers didn´t like this video. I loved it. Thanks for showing us your work!

  • @AndreKrugerDeToledo
    @AndreKrugerDeToledo 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Try aging it on Amburana Wood, its a brazilian wood thats brings a "sap" (tree thing) + almondish notes. Its my favourite!

  • @finlayjones714
    @finlayjones714 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    i've been wanting to make this for a while and i'm glad someone has done it so it's not a complete failure

  • @ryanwalthuis1928
    @ryanwalthuis1928 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    We made some of this a few years ago an i aged it with some wood staves for 2 years. absolutely amazing!

  • @agreen9813
    @agreen9813 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Thank you...🙏
    I’ve been making mead for years now, and I have always wanted to distill some, just to see. I’m very curious how it turned out.

    • @StillIt
      @StillIt  3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Nice, honestly man it's getting better and more honey like the more it sits. Definitely worth a try, although silly expensive if your paying for the honey.

  • @Dominikmj
    @Dominikmj 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Great episode- for the 2nd “batch it seems to me clear: age it in bee’s wax!

  • @dire_prism
    @dire_prism 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I like the idea of backsweetening with honey, as well as perhaps making a fortified mead.
    Or perhaps a mead "gin" with traditional mead herbs.

  • @jefferyzielke7665
    @jefferyzielke7665 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    I make this every year. I build in some DME for nutrition and flavor. I then age it with white oak. It is a very special sprit.

  • @jaredgreenwald3072
    @jaredgreenwald3072 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I love this channel so much

  • @tonyoliver4920
    @tonyoliver4920 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    The side spirt:
    Make a spiced “rum”, honey works well with spices especially cinnamon
    back sweeten with honey

  • @johnp.2267
    @johnp.2267 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    71 Beast earns its name, and then some. I used it to make a mead, and it fermented down to full dry in just over a week. Scary effective.

  • @lancetower3321
    @lancetower3321 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    I have been thinking of doing this. But keeping some wash, and fortify with the distillate.

  • @tylerferrell2959
    @tylerferrell2959 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    1st a-b comparison after the age then maybe try an age in Riesling barrels or chunks of wood whatever is available

    • @VndNvwYvvSvv
      @VndNvwYvvSvv 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Yeah, it might be very different if properly aged first, not just raw off the primary

  • @shinygravel
    @shinygravel 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    I was 12 minutes in before I realized you're wearing a Superstition Meadery hat! They are located in my hometown, Prescott, Arizona! I have many friends who have worked, and\or currently work there. The product is just as amazing as these people, and Jeff and Jenn truly set the precedent! 🍻 to some of the best mead on the planet, now if only you could distill some of their Blueberry Spaceship Box cider!!!

  • @philiptruitt
    @philiptruitt 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thank you, Jesse!

  • @mitchwilliamson5552
    @mitchwilliamson5552 ปีที่แล้ว

    The bucket sitting there for 15 years is how pretty much the story of the absolute, very best meads I have ever tasted have started.

  • @nunos9738
    @nunos9738 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Dear Jesse. First of all, congratulations on your fun and informative videos. I am an apprentice of a beginner of a mead fermenter. I already had the intention of distilling a few liters of dry mead, which didn't come out very well. It will be my first distillation experience. I intend to use some of the distillate to "smother" (stop) the fermentation of new mead, thus producing, I hope, a kind of sweet wine (mead). This is my suggestion! I loved this video. Keep up the good work.

  • @kapstersmusic
    @kapstersmusic 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    If you really want to try some flavorful mead, drop about 5-10 stuffed cups of aromatic rose petals into just off-the boil-water (for a 5 gallon mead batch). Then add 1 gallon of honey, ferment once it cools enough. K1V-116 handles honey well, up to about 14% abv, and I think is has a great flavor profile. If you use pink rose petals it will actually tint the mead pink, provided you use the boil first technique!

  • @jasoneubanks645
    @jasoneubanks645 ปีที่แล้ว

    The Up North Distillery in Post Falls, Idaho specializes in honey distillates. They make a fine product

  • @akekristianljung7023
    @akekristianljung7023 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    That energy of yours is superb 👌enjoyed watching this on hangover saturday 😂

  • @SpectrumDIY
    @SpectrumDIY 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Saw this and had to watch... now your description of that honey is making me salivate lmao (Used to help my granddad with his bees back some years ago :D )

    • @SpectrumDIY
      @SpectrumDIY 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      "And new hydrometers when I break them" lmaooo

  • @chicoalarantianah75
    @chicoalarantianah75 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Been waiting for years for mead distillation outcome vid.. cheers

  • @benknotes9450
    @benknotes9450 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    I have been curious about this for so long. Thank you for feeding my curiosity.

  • @exvictorian3605
    @exvictorian3605 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thank you

  • @xidor77
    @xidor77 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    cloudberry mead is so good

  • @thefirstbushman
    @thefirstbushman ปีที่แล้ว

    We made some meadshine over 2weeks and it turned out great definitely dry however compared to our other batches it was a pleasant change from the sweetness and god it knocks your socks off

  • @AlliePaints
    @AlliePaints ปีที่แล้ว

    Thank you for this. Can’t wait to do it myself!!!

  • @miladmoghaddassi
    @miladmoghaddassi 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    I did that before and divided to 2 different batches... One with oak only and the other 2 liters with oak and 1 tbsp of honey and pepper seeds. I think the results was fantastic.

  • @davidallen4174
    @davidallen4174 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great video! I received my set of three t-shirts from AM. I love the hidden messages on the Astro Jar shirt. Still It logo is great but takes a better eye to catch the molecule diagram for Ethal alcohol in the form of a constillation, love it. The other two are star catcher and the astronaut playing the video game, vivid colors and comfortable material. Big fan please don't stop.

  • @Rickster621
    @Rickster621 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Sounds awesome.

  • @robkorczak
    @robkorczak 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    I don't fully know how Polish Krupnik is made but OMG that stuff is so delicious. You say that it tastes so much of honey already, maybe go the extra step, whatever that is, and make a bottle or two of Krupnik, you won't be sorry. It doesn't taste like mead at all, it's very sweet and they bottle it at 80 proof so it's not a Liquor by any stretch. Maybe looks at how they do it and put your own twist on it and make it your own. For those reading this please try Polish Krupnik you are guaranteed to love it, every American friend I've introduced to it they instantly went out an sought out a couple of bottles since in some parts it's harder to get a hold of.