Zufanek's "Mead Base"

[Brynjolfr]

I see that there's an http://www.zufanek.cz/en/products/mead-base-absinthe'>absinthe by Zufanek made with a honey alcohol base (i.e. distilled mead), called "Mead Base". Sounds extremely interesting in my opinion. I mean, why not? There's absinthe based on alcohol from wine, so why not one based on alcohol from "honey wine"?

 

I've never tried any of Zufanek's absinthes, but I know they're good at making them, so this one could be good as well.

 

REVIEW PAGE UP

Edited December 8, 2015 by Brian Robinson
edited to add review page link

[Brian Robinson]

They are all good. The mead base is quite interesting. Very tasty without being overwhelming,

[Joe Legate]

I agree, Brynjolfr. I have made mead for years and played with the idea of a mead base only fleetingly but found the idea intriguing.

 

If Martin made it, I have tremendous confidence it will be first rate.

[greytail]

Looks very interesting indeed. Best of both worlds as Joe pointed out.

[Jack Griffin]

Even more interesting, and it wasn't mentioned... Martin's family raises their own bees, and harvests their own honey.

[greytail]

Wait. Thought that was a secret...hehe.. The queen is out the hive now as they say.

Edited August 4, 2013 by greytail

[Absomphe]

Mead makes quite an interesting base for beer, and I imagine it would be very suitable for absinthe, as well.

 

And I agree with Joe...if Martin made it, it's probably a winner.

[Jack Griffin]

no secret. Confirmed this afternoon by the bee himself.

[greytail]

Yeah. Just wanted to use that little idiom.

[Martin Zufanek]

Thank you guys for such a kind words! I really appreciate it.

 

Mead Base was an experiment with using non-classic (traditional) base. As Scott mentioned, we got quite large fruit orchards, quite lots of bees and of course honey. So in 2009 I took our 3 yrs old Mead (honey wine), redistilled it and used it as a base for absinthe maceration. Result was quite interesting and seemed like people enjoyed it. I've added it into regular assortment and kept the prototype name, Mead Base.

 

As you can imagine, it is all about mead spirit. I have used less anise and fennel to not-overpower sweetnes and aroma of distilled mead. What is sweet by nature (like honey) must be also combined with some bitterness. Jing Jang. And bitterness was achieved by almost double amount of pontica in coloration in compare with our other absinthes.

 

Absinthe itself is a very basic Pontarlier style. So 4 distilled and 2 macerated herbs. Once again, becouse of this (very expensive) base which I didn't want to hide by adding more herbs.

 

If anyone would be interested, Antoine from absinthes.com wrote an review which got the point.

[greytail]

Looks good. Sounds good. Must therefore BE good. I need to go order a bottle.

[Ambear]

I'm really excited to try this one...I wish we had more of the "fruits" (or should I say fruit boozes) of Martin's labor available in the states. Definitely going to grab a bottle of this in the next month or two.

[Brian Robinson]

I've been able to buy them previously from his website. Try it out.

 

His bierschnaaps is the bee's knees.

[Evan Camomile]

Time to go on a Zufanek Orchard tour. Glass by glass.

 

Also, very interested in the Mead Base.

[Ambear]

Do they really ship to the US? If so, that'd be super exciting.

[Brian Robinson]

I bought a couple of his products through his site a few years ago.

[Martin Zufanek]

Excuse se me, I really don't want to make any business related stuff here on WS, not even get money off your pocket. But on the other hand, there might be some of you who want to try our stuff which is impossible to buy in USA and this could be your chance to properly taste it.

 

What if I prepare some packages with selection of our bottles, like "explore Zufanek's" and offer it here for very friendly price?

 

First package could include 0,5l bottle of slivovitz, pear brandy, apricot brandy, beer schnapps, second: oak-barrel aged slivovitz, oak-barrel aged pear brandy, oak-barrel aged wine brandy, mead base, third: juniper spirit, kontusovka, walnut liqueur and honey liqueur. I'd like to stick with maximum 4 bottles in one package becouse of safety and maybe troubles with your Customs.

 

But it is just my thought. Brian, feel free to delete or move this post to more related market thread. Or maybe I could create some in The Market thread with more detailed info.

Edited August 8, 2013 by Martin Zufanek

[Brian Robinson]

I'd buy a care package like that any day.

[Joe Legate]

Same here. I think that is a very kind offer, Martin.

Thank you.

[Ambear]

Evan and I would each be good for a package or two. I'd murder for some slivovitz.

[buddhasynth]

that sounds like a good time indeed.

 

I'm almost halfway through a bottle of the Mead Base, courtesy of a client who was in Prague a month ago. Pretty simple stuff, definitely a prominent base aroma when neat. I'd gladly buy another one of my own volition, probably next year when I do the L'Ancienne thing again.

[Brian Robinson]

My apologies to Martin for taking so long, but I finally added a review page for this.

 

REVIEW PAGE UP.

[Villemo]

Martin Žufánek posted on his Facebook, that new batch of Mead Base will be available at the beginning of the next year