Breaking News. We have just won the Irish Food Writers’ Guild Drink of the Year award.
Let’s say that again

Drink of the Year!

from the hard working and astute writers at the Irish Food Writers’ Guild. We are walking on air.
You keep on going, head down, but every now and then you look around and take stock and it’s such a boost to get this kind of recognition and appreciation for the care we take to make the best possible Irish meads at Kinsale Mead Co.

Thanks due to Bord Bia – Irish Food Board, our Local Enterprise Office Cork and many others for their support of us as a small family run business, belief in a modern Irish Mead and guidance in…well…lots of things!

Now in their 27th year, the IFWG Food Awards celebrate local heroes who have brought joy to the lives and tables of so many, before and especially during COVID-19, but whose commitment to producing great food and drink will endure long after the pandemic.

If this pandemic has any silver lining, it is the light that has been shined on the incredible, resourceful and innovative food producers of Ireland that have responded to the challenge, giving back to communities and ensuring a continued supply of and access to the highest-quality home-grown produce. Today’s winners have an innate passion for food and their commitment is nothing short of vocational. This is our way of recognising their achievements and our way of saying well done and thank you.

Many many congratulations to the other winners, (especially the brilliant Neighbour Food – check out your local market)

In 2020, Kate and Denis, inspired by the legends of Ireland’s Wild Geese, wanted to explore the potential of their mead further by barrel ageing it. The IFWG Award is for their Wild Red Mead – Merlot Barrel Aged, a three-year-old off-dry mead with tart Irish blackcurrant and juicy cherry, aged for twelve months in Bordeaux wine casks.

2020 was a challenging year for the duo as direct sales were impacted, meadery tours were limited and tastings, food festivals and other promotional opportunities all ceased due to COVID-19 restrictions. They responded by creating virtual Online Mead Talk & Tastings zooms with intriguing insights into the history of mead in Ireland and the importance of mead in Irish food culture, held in high esteem and value.

Kinsale Mead’s Wild Red Mead – Merlot Barrel Aged showcases the creativity, innovation, determination and attention to detail put into every drop of their honeyed elixir. This mead may well have influences of Spain and France, but to taste it is to experience a contemporary expression of the original wine of Ireland.

Read more on the amazing winners here in their terrific magazine.
https://lnkd.in/e5kXdzE They even share our favourite Mead and Chocolate Brownie Recipe.

We are absolutely thrilled and humbled and truly grateful. Our smooth and decadent Wild Red Mead was aged in a Bordeaux barrel for a year to produce our limited edition Barrel Aged Mead. While we’re waiting for this year’s batch to mature, try the original now. It’s silky smooth and slides down like a big hug of fruitiness.

Or why not try our new, semi-sweet, Irish Wildflower Mead, full of the flavours of West Cork in the summertime. Whichever mead you choose, we’re excited for you to share our love and passion for all things mead.