Dansk Mjød Viking Runes Danish Cherry Mead 75 cl 14%

Honey, cherries and a splash of Tasmania. Mead is older than the Vikings and older than writing, yet here it sits in a dark bottle with gold runes and a longship on the label, as if it had just pulled up to the quay in Billund.

Expert description

Vikinge Runer Kirsebær Edition is a Danish Mead made with cherries and Tasmanian pepperberries by Dansk Mjød in Billund, brewed to a recipe from around the year 1700 and bottled at 14%.

It is the first mead in the Vikinge Runer series, and the label calls it a Nordic honey wine. Honey is the main ingredient, and the cherries give the mead its deep red colour. According to Dansk Mjød, the ingredients are 100% natural, with no additives of any kind and no gluten or lactose.

The pepperberries are what sets this bottle apart from an ordinary cherry mead. They put a lightly spiced base under the sweetness. Honey, fruit and spice carry the flavour here. Sediment may occur, as the label points out.

Dansk Mjød has been brewing mead since 1994. It is a small, family-owned business that develops the equipment it brews on itself.

Tasting notes

Nose

Honey and ripe cherries, with a round touch of vanilla behind them and a hint of pepper.

Palate

Sweet and juicy. The honey leads, then the fresh tartness of the sour cherries steps in and keeps the sweetness in check.

Finish

Lightly spiced and spirited, with pepper coming in from behind to add warmth. It lingers longer than the sweetness would suggest.

Specifications

Name: Vikinge Runer Kirsebær Edition
Producer: Dansk Mjød
Region/Country: Billund, Denmark
Type: Mead, Nordic honey wine
ABV: 14%
Size: 75 CL
Edition: Kirsebær Edition, first mead in the Vikinge Runer series
EAN no.: 5703162008253
Serving suggestion: Lightly chilled as an aperitif, at room temperature as a sweet dessert wine, or warm like mulled wine

Flavour profile

Sweet · Cherry · Honey · Lightly spiced · Dessert wine

Did you know?

The Tasmanian pepperberries are a tribute to Queen Mary's homeland. The back label says so, calling this first mead in the Vikinge Runer series a salute to Her Majesty.

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Frequently asked questions about Vikinge Runer Kirsebær Edition

What does Vikinge Runer Kirsebær Edition taste like?

It tastes of honey and cherries with a lightly spiced finish. The sweetness of the honey meets the fresh tartness of sour cherries, and the pepperberries add warmth and depth at the end.

How do you serve Vikinge Runer Kirsebær Edition?

The producer suggests serving it lightly chilled as an aperitif, at room temperature as a dessert wine, or warm like mulled wine. You can season it with warming spices if you like.

What food goes with Vikinge Runer Kirsebær Edition?

Dark chocolate and rich desserts are natural partners. The cherry tartness cuts through the sweetness, and the pepper meets the bitterness of the cocoa. The mead can also be topped with a little demi-sec sparkling wine.

Is Vikinge Runer a mead or a wine?

The label calls it a Nordic honey wine, and the two terms mean nearly the same thing. Mead is wine made from honey instead of grapes, and at 14% Vikinge Runer sits at the strength of a robust wine.

Is Vikinge Runer Kirsebær Edition gluten-free and lactose-free?

According to the label, the mead is free of gluten, lactose and additives of any kind. Honey is the main ingredient in the recipe.

Who makes Vikinge Runer?

Vikinge Runer is brewed and bottled by Dansk Mjød A/S in Billund, Denmark, which has been brewing mead since 1994. It is a small, family-owned business with its own purpose-built brewing equipment.