Mead bottles are available for curbside pickup at our Meadery or by shipment to the states listed in our 'Shipping Policy'.
The Icon Reserve is truly a masterclass in the art of fruit growing, meadmaking, and barrel-aging. It represents a cumulative 50 years of experience between Ken Schramm and James Naeger, MSc. This extraordinary mead is the direct result of Ken's years of research into cider apple typology, heirloom apple varieties, and his relentless quest to make the best apple mead possible — in concert with James' barrel expertise, precision, timing, and dedication to quality at every level. The apples were hand-harvested by Ken and his daughter Sarah, washed and pressed into cider, and fermented in 5 gallon glass demi-johns.
The unique blend of estate-grown heirloom and modern apple varieties were then carefully transferred by James and Shawn into one of the most aromatically complex bourbon barrels we have ever had the pleasure of working with. The Mayor Pingree bourbon barrel, sourced by James from our friends and neighbors at Valentine Distillery, imparts aromatics of toasted coconut, brown sugar, pie crust, and sweet pipe tobacco. As Ken created balance and complexity between apple varieties and honey in Apple Reserve, so crafted James a delicate balance between fidelity to exceptional apple flavor and aroma with the bold, robust flavor and aromatics possible from the barrel. The end result is a magical mead — aged to create flavors of deeply caramelized apple laced with sweet cream and vanilla. James' fanatical attention to detail, and dedication to quality, make this mead one of our most beloved yet.
The Icon Reserve is the first estate mead that has been aged in barrel. It can be differentiated from The Icon Batch One by James’ signature Beeswax closure in lieu of a tin capsule.
