Chaucer's Mead

"For authentic Irish drinks, one need look no farther than Bunratty Meade Honey Wine, made from white wine with honey and herbs. The drink of ancient Gauls and Anglo Saxons, Mead was originally made by monks centuries ago from fermented honey and water. Mead soon made its way into the courts of the Four Kings of Ireland and no banquet was complete without it.

"This honey-based drink was said to possess powers of virility and fertility, and it became custom for a bride and groom to drink mead for one full moon after their wedding, giving birth to the word 'honeymoon.' In Ireland today, it is still tradition to toast the bride and groom with a glass of Meade when they depart on their honeymoon from the wedding feast.

"Bunratty Meade Honey Wine is superb when chilled and served over ice. A mixture of wine, honey, and herbs, Meade is a completely authentic Irish drink." —winemaker

"This artisan metheglin-style Danish mead has hibiscus and hops, which give it a soft, citrus-like flavor and very floral aroma. Its finish is hoppy-dry, spicy, and very warming." —importer

"Maraska Orahovac is the only liqueur on the market that is being prepared by green walnuts, in the same way, the Croatian households have been making for centuries. It is served pure, with ice, as an aperitif or digestive. Specific combinations of flavors reveal the combination of milk and coffee, with real refreshment offered in combination with cola." —producer

"From its origins with the French Foreign Legion to the legions of modern mixologists still using it today, Dubonnet Rouge Aperitif Wine has been a staple on the cocktail landscape since its introduction in 1846. Dubonnet's mix of fortified wine, a proprietary blend of herbs, spices, and peels, and quinine is a recipe that has earned it legendary status in the world of sophisticated drinks." —producer