I had some friends over for lunch and a mead tasting, amazing how many people show up when you offer them free food and drink, this afternoon. It went well, I got some good feedback and introduced some folks to nice mead.
I have had a few informal mead tasting like events in the past and incorporated lessons learned into this gathering.
1. Set expectations - for folks new to mead make sure they know that they are in fact tasting mead, fermented honey plus whatever else is in the drink. Nothing confuses/disappoints folks more than expecting to taste wine when they hear "honey wine". Remember that time as a kid when you took a big spoonful of ice cream only to find out it was actually sour cream? Yeah, taste buds hate that.
2. Tell people what they are drinking - Don't make them tell you what they are tasting, unless of course you have a professional or semi-pro group of tasters. If they are going to taste a coffee infused mead, let them know it is a coffee infused mead. Make the description fun and listen to the comments and asides to gather feedback.
3. Make it pretty - A nice display with clear bottles in a pleasant environment goes a long way towards success.
4. Give them structure - Let folks know the order they should sample the drinks. Don't let them start with the hot chili pepper and end with the delicately layered cyser or traditional.
5. No secrets - If something is experimental or still needs work, let 'em know. Don't let them walk away thinking that your work in progress is how a finished mead is supposed to taste.
6. Keep it informal - The idea is to have fun, not make 'em earn the lunch and mead. This mead tasting was only one part of an afternoon with friends. Remember, these are friends, not a focus group.
Here are some photos from today's set up. Or not.... having an issue uploading images. But, they are nice images, you will just have to take my word for it.
I have had a few informal mead tasting like events in the past and incorporated lessons learned into this gathering.
1. Set expectations - for folks new to mead make sure they know that they are in fact tasting mead, fermented honey plus whatever else is in the drink. Nothing confuses/disappoints folks more than expecting to taste wine when they hear "honey wine". Remember that time as a kid when you took a big spoonful of ice cream only to find out it was actually sour cream? Yeah, taste buds hate that.
2. Tell people what they are drinking - Don't make them tell you what they are tasting, unless of course you have a professional or semi-pro group of tasters. If they are going to taste a coffee infused mead, let them know it is a coffee infused mead. Make the description fun and listen to the comments and asides to gather feedback.
3. Make it pretty - A nice display with clear bottles in a pleasant environment goes a long way towards success.
4. Give them structure - Let folks know the order they should sample the drinks. Don't let them start with the hot chili pepper and end with the delicately layered cyser or traditional.
5. No secrets - If something is experimental or still needs work, let 'em know. Don't let them walk away thinking that your work in progress is how a finished mead is supposed to taste.
6. Keep it informal - The idea is to have fun, not make 'em earn the lunch and mead. This mead tasting was only one part of an afternoon with friends. Remember, these are friends, not a focus group.
Here are some photos from today's set up. Or not.... having an issue uploading images. But, they are nice images, you will just have to take my word for it.