Vikings Blod by Dansk Mjød

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xopher425

NewBee
Registered Member
Jan 5, 2013
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Chicago, IL
This is actually the fourth mead I've tried (the first, though, was 20 years ago.) It says it's "A Nordic honey wine with hibiscus and hops added." I have a few gallons aging in the closet, and am trying to get more experience and a reference point.

This is pretty sweet, with slight fruity tones in the beginning then a slight bitter note, then a honey taste at the end. It's strong, at 19%.

I really liked it. I tend to like things sweeter, though, so I can appreciate that this might not be to everyone's taste. I really wanted to try a mead with some flavors added, as my previous two recent tastings were 1. Chaucers and 2. a plain mead from Wildflower Meadery, made south of Chicago. I could taste the distinct flavors, and really liked them. I drank it chilled, and have noticed that cooling mead seems to tone down some of the sweetness.

The really cool thing is the bottle. It's a dark, heavy bottle, almost feels like stoneware. Has a wood topped cork, not sure if it'll take a regular size cork. Plan to save this to bottle something special.
 
I also tried this one recently. It further reinforced my thought that if you want good mead, you have to make it yourself. I believe $25 is too much to pay for a good bottle...
 
Viking Blod isn't a typical mead. I like it, but it can take some time to appreciate it. Very high in alcohol, so it needs that sweetness. Danske makes 3 others flavors in similiar bottles.

I suggest drinking them cold and then let the glass warm. You'll get a lot of new and different flavors and smell's as it comes up to room temperature.

You should save the first Saturday in June and come up to Milwaukee for the World of Beer Festival. We'll have at least 4-5 meaderies (always looking for new places who will ship to Wi) and with 2-4 flavors from each that you can sample. Some will be things you can't buy locally. ;D

Better yet, join a beer club. The Drunk Monk compitition is this weekend at the Roundhouse in Aurora. Volunteer as a steward. You get to sample the stuff after the judges have finished. Meads and ciders are Friday night. Probably too late to volunteer this year, but consider it for next year. :)
 
I agree, $25 is a lot to pay for a bottle. But since I have my first meads aging the the closet, I have nothing of my own to drink, so I'm sampling what's available commercially. I feel that $25 was worth the bottle, the experience, and the exposure. While I liked it (I do have strange tastes), I probably won't get it too often (I actually liked Chaucers, and it's much cheaper). My friends at work, who are more excited for my new hobby than my partner is, really liked it, too.

I have definitely noticed the change in flavors as the glass warms. I've also noticed that the colder the drink, the less noticeable the sweetness is.

jkane - those ideas sound incredibly cool. I just may have to use some vacation time to go to Milwaukee (God I hate working weekends).
 
If you want to have some mead right away, I suggest a gallon of JAOM which could be ready in as little as 6 to 8 weeks.

I am opening up a bottle of Dragon Blod tonight as part of a flight I am presenting to a few friends. I am being sneaky and including a commercial bottle filled with my own mead to see what they day about it.
 
Yeah, I'm almost done drinking my first 3 gallons of JAO, have 6 gallons of blackberry, 3 more of orange, and one raspberry. Just wanted to get an idea of commercial meads, expand my palette. Really like JOAs, kind of the drink I've always wanted.

Sent from my Galaxy S II
 
I also tried this one recently. It further reinforced my thought that if you want good mead, you have to make it yourself. I believe $25 is too much to pay for a good bottle...

Yep! Especially considering how quickly it disappears! And considering a gallon of JAO costs (in my area) about 20 bucks, not counting the cost of the jug and airlock.

I imagine that cost will go down when I get bulk honey for my 5 gallon batch. Of course, I'm not factoring in the 5 gal carboy, bung and all the other ancillary equipment...but JAO does not need that equipment to be great, just Fleishman's oranges and the spices.

BUT! If you want mead and you want it tonight...it's nice to know the store has a bottle or three.