Hi everyone,
I made my 1st mead (following the JAOM recipe) a few months ago with moderate success but I would really have liked a more varied flavour.
After thinking about this for a few months I have decided I would really like to try a mead with a fiery ginger kick to it. From the posts I have read, the below recipe seems like a safe idea for a gallon but there are a few factors stopping me from starting:
3lb honey (originally thinking clover honey but very open to suggestions and advice on where to find this for reasonable prices in the UK)
2lb raw ginger
One sachet of yeast (I have Lalvin D47 and have heard good reviews but once again would change this if advised)
1 Orange/Orange Juice
1 Lemon
Raisins as a nutrient. They seemed to work well in the JAOM.
1 stick of Cinnamon.
1 clove.
I realise as part of this I haven't added an energiser or Campden tablets but if they are not necessary, I would not be worries about missing these out.
I was looking to originally make a 'tea' using the ginger and adding this as part of the primary. I was also planning on adding the spices and fruit at this stage and leaving it there for the full length it's in the primary.
If the notes are anything to go by, I will generally be racking anywhere between 1 and 4 weeks (once gravity drops to about 1.010) and possibly adding additional ginger/orange/lemon at this stage.
I'm not in a massive rush to finish this so a 6-9 month mead would suit me nicely. I also would prefer a final alcohol level of about 14% and would rather keep this sweeter than dryer.
Any help/advice/opinions would be massively appreciated and I'll make sure I keep you all posted throughout.
I made my 1st mead (following the JAOM recipe) a few months ago with moderate success but I would really have liked a more varied flavour.
After thinking about this for a few months I have decided I would really like to try a mead with a fiery ginger kick to it. From the posts I have read, the below recipe seems like a safe idea for a gallon but there are a few factors stopping me from starting:
3lb honey (originally thinking clover honey but very open to suggestions and advice on where to find this for reasonable prices in the UK)
2lb raw ginger
One sachet of yeast (I have Lalvin D47 and have heard good reviews but once again would change this if advised)
1 Orange/Orange Juice
1 Lemon
Raisins as a nutrient. They seemed to work well in the JAOM.
1 stick of Cinnamon.
1 clove.
I realise as part of this I haven't added an energiser or Campden tablets but if they are not necessary, I would not be worries about missing these out.
I was looking to originally make a 'tea' using the ginger and adding this as part of the primary. I was also planning on adding the spices and fruit at this stage and leaving it there for the full length it's in the primary.
If the notes are anything to go by, I will generally be racking anywhere between 1 and 4 weeks (once gravity drops to about 1.010) and possibly adding additional ginger/orange/lemon at this stage.
I'm not in a massive rush to finish this so a 6-9 month mead would suit me nicely. I also would prefer a final alcohol level of about 14% and would rather keep this sweeter than dryer.
Any help/advice/opinions would be massively appreciated and I'll make sure I keep you all posted throughout.