freezing mead
 

I'm thinking of freezing a small batch of mead, much like hard cider. The plan is to put in to clear sanitized 2 liter bottles for 24 hours, remove from freezer and turn upside down over a sanitized jar until the color is gone from the ice. question is, what the product be called?

I would call it Awesome. Might not be legal but sure is fun. I have heard of apple wine being frozen and called apple jack?

Freeze concentrating is legal

I know if mead is ran through a still it would be honeyshine.

Freeze concentration is a form of distilling from what i understand. And well.....

A legal form, according to the government. That's enough for me.

I'm not trying to get into a legal fight here. I thought I'd read at the TTB website that distillation included any concentration of the alcohol and that was only allowed under a liscensed permit. I strongly recomend that you take a look at the TTB site and until you find it explicity exempts freezing assume that it is not legal with out paperwork.

If you find that, please post the link. and I 've found second hand sources saying it is ok, but on something like this I personally require original sourcing.


BTW, the name should be 'honeyjack'

Interesting. Agree on the name.

If you look into the original ATF ruling 94-3 and all the sub-categories, then the definitions and stuff in 27 CFR 7.24, 25.11, 25.261, and 25.263, it clarifies why it's not considered the same as distillation. While it mainly pertains to beer it explains that the process of freezing and removing ice crystals as a form of concentration doesn't change the original "basic character" like traditional distillation does. This gives the legal loophole to those that want to try "freeze distillation" which more accurately is called fractional freezing....

Dunno if this satisfies anyone curiosity or questions, or if someone else has better information, just thought I'd add this to the debate.

Are you going to get a tasty product out of freeze concentrating?

Thanks, that is the sort of info I was looking for. Also found out that wine (which mead is considered a wine) must have atleast 7% abv but not more than 24%. No similar restriction is imposed on beer.