A few questions about my mead...

[D00msD4v3]

Approx a year ago i started a mead.

Used 1 gallon (12lbs) of Wild flower raw honey;
4 gallons of distilled water;
1 can Cherry fruit wine base (Cherry wine base).
I used Premier Cuvee Yeast.

Well life happened, and I forgot about it till the other day when mom called... So I go get it. Well I get there and the air-lock is nearly dried out, has some fruit flies in it. .. I used a 6gal. brewers bucket. I am not able to locate what I did with the paper I logged the OG on, I have yet to take a FG. I rinsed out the Air lock and refilled it and put it back on the mead.

Well after some research I hope I do not have vinigar due to the fruit flies. What should i do next on this to try to preserve this mead? and baised on the yeast how long should this mead sit before drank? I believe this is going to be a long wait.. Thanks for all the assistance.

 

[cluckk]

Wine, mead and beer have been produced in less sanitary conditions for millennia. If it tastes and smells good, I'd bottle and drink it.

 

[D00msD4v3]

I know when I pulled the air-lock I could smell the alcohol. Have a feeling its gonna be a strong one. Before bottling if i were to use a little potassium sorbate to stop fermentation, added in a little more honey, plus some vanilla bean for a little added flavoring. What would your advice on this be?

 

[D00msD4v3]

How about racking off the cherries and putting into another fermenter to clear up. Would this work if the the gravity reading is too low? The yeast will not be able to produce enough carbon dioxide to keep up the bad stuff is this true?

 

[skadalajara]

How about racking off the cherries and putting into another fermenter to clear up. Would this work if the the gravity reading is too low? The yeast will not be able to produce enough carbon dioxide to keep up the bad stuff is this true?

It will work. There are still going to be small amounts CO2 in solution that will degas due to agitation.

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[D00msD4v3]

Thank you.. I shall start it thanks.

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[D00msD4v3]

Looks like it turned out OK, my FG is 1.000 this is going to be a big one.. Whats the beat way to tone it down? Also took a few pics in my snifter..

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[SouthernYankee]

Looks like it turned out OK, my FG is 1.000 this is going to be a big one.. Whats the beat way to tone it down? Also took a few pics in my snifter..

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Question is...how does it taste? Does it need to be turned down? Looks great to me!

 

[D00msD4v3]

The taste is rather light it has the alcohol burn, no real cherry or honey notes present. I put some vanilla beans in lastnight , would love to have a decent sweet cherry flavor to compliment the vanilla.

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[D00msD4v3]

How about adding monin cherry syrup to the mix?

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[D00msD4v3]

How about cold crashing and adding the juices from maraschino cherries, and a little honey for mouth feel plus sweetness? Thanks everyone for the assistance.