When to add juice?

[BoatShark]

I am planning on making a 1 gallon Margarita mead and want to know if it makes any difference if I just make a basic mead & add my juices/flavorings at secondary or can I add them on brew day? Here's what I am planning:

1 gal Water
3 lbs clover
8 oz agave
8 oz lime juice
1/8 tsp vanilla extract
1 oz Grand Mariner
Lalvin EC 118 yeast

1/2 tsp Super K
1/2 benonite
1 tsp DAP/Energizer

 

[Matrix4b]

Add to the secondary. Also, you may want to add a little bit of lime zest, like 1/2 teaspoon would do and up the vanilla to a full tablespoon or even 2. All to the secondary. This will keep the flavors better.

You also may want to oak it with light toasted oak, 1 oz for about a week with such a low volume. This will smooth out the mead.

Also, don't forget to age it for 6-8 months. The flavors don't really come out until the 6th month of aging at least.

But looks good

Matrix