Removed fruit and rum soaked oak chips from my Blackberry melomel. I wont use oak chips again just staves. I will say the taste is good but it’s definitely something that can overpower if not careful. My experience with staves are more subtle but blends perfectly.
Racked my traditional bochet and stabilized, I’ll backsweeten in about 2 days. Im also sampling some that I added honey and it has flavors where I want them. Subtle marshmallow and toffee 🤤
Best mead so far would be my Blackberry Raspberry, aged on charred white oak staves, 18% abv; It’s still aging now.
The tie would be my grape and blueberry melomel 16% abv; tied with my coffeemel 15% abv.