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Photographer Paul Sherwood 087 230 9096 paul@sherwood.ie
Kinsale Mead, Kinsale, Co.Cork. March 2021

Kinsale Mead Co Reintroduces Award-winning Merlot Barrel Aged Mead

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The Kinsale Mead Co. has reintroduced its award-winning Wild Red Mead, a unique bottling that was aged in Merlot wine barrels.

This is the first time the mead has been available since it was awarded Irish Drink of the Year at the 2021 Irish Food Writer’s Guild awards.

The 3 year-old Wild Red Mead is a blackcurrant and cherry mead fermented off-dry, which has been matured for the last 12 months in Bordeaux wine oak barrels to add structure and depth. The result is an exceptional mead, attractive and lively with a decadent richness.

Reviewing the mead, Leslie Williams from the Irish Examiner said: “Light dark cherry aromas with distinct honeyed notes in the background, sweet red and black fruits on the palate with a crisp (almost tart) cherry finish and lingering subtle soft honey and raspberry notes. Quite delicious and rather fascinating.”

“We were absolutely thrilled and humbled and truly grateful when we won the award,” said Denis Dempsey, mead-maker and co-founder. “It’s such a boost to get this kind of recognition and appreciation for the care we take to make the best possible Irish meads, and we have been so eager to bring our mead back on the market after the award so everyone can experience the taste.”

“It’s delicious served at a cool room temperature,” said Kate Dempsey, co-founder. “We think this is a drink that’s crying out to be paired with fine food.”

The latest batch is available now in select shops including the Celtic Whiskey Shop and the Kinsale Mead Co online shop. RRP is €27.95.

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