Looking for mead...

[trombasteve]

Hello all,

I've been looking high and low for a place to try mead in Toronto, and I haven't found anything yet. (The LCBO isn't carrying any right now.) Anyone have any suggestions for places where I might be able to try some?

Also, for bonus points, if anyone knows where one could buy elderflower or elderberry syrup/concentrate/cordial, I'd love to hear it!

Thanks!

Steve

[trombasteve]

Great - thanks all. Any ideas for elderberry/elderflower? (Thanks for the Ikea tip, but I don't have a car, so that's not my first choice.)

[CheddarCheese]

To quote redearth's post: another good bet for elderberry syrup would be Viking Fine Foods and Catering, at 133 Laird:

http://www.milbreeviking.com/
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&h...

[trombasteve]

Ah - well spotted. I must have missed that. Thanks!

[Finnegan]

I've seen Moniack Mead in the LCBO store at Queen's Quay, Toronto...it's the tradional Honey mead drink..$21

[Tatai]

I attended the opening of Rosewood Estate Winery in Beamsville last year. They are producing mead/honey wine, but I'm not sure if it's available at the LCBO. You might want to contact them.

www.rosewoodwine.com

[ms. clicquot]

I picked up a bottle of mead at Rosewood last summer but I haven't seen it at the LCBO, nor is it listed on their website. However, it's worth a visit to the winery if you're in the area.

[redearth]

Munro Honey in Alvinston is also producing some excellent mead:

http://www.munrohoney.com/

[jayt90]

I'll second that. I worked with Warren Munro as a teenager
Here is the product list. They say they will ship. http://www.munrohoney.com/products.as...
Contact Davis Bryans and say Jamie sent you there.

[WhiteWolf McBride]

Guys/Gals:

Moniack has been delisted for almost 2 months now. I ~literally~ got the LAST bottle in Ontario, a hand-carry from the pair that was in Petawawa to Kanata, and I picked it up there. I was almost ready to drive to TO to get the half-dozen downtown, thats how good this stuff is. When I decided, they were GONE.

If anyone knows where in CANADA it can be bought and mailed, let me know? Otherwise I'll have to have a friend in the UK bring some over (he winters in NS, don't ask me why...)

As for the Trafalgar stuff, it tastes VERY malty... a very poor substitute for the excellent Moniack. The Chaucers stuff LCBO had two years ago was no better. Anyone wanna start a petition to try to get LCBO to bring it back?

The SAQ in Quebec has many PQ-made meads listed, although half of them are 'berry-flavored' instead of natural honey-mead (look under hydromel) Any recommendations would be appreciated (I'm across the river in Ottawa, so SAQ's are easily accessed)

[e-mail]

[ckostecki]

talk to the buyer at your lcbo. if you buy a case they will likely bring it in for you. i've done this in the past with things they've de-listed.

[robgm]

Jeremy Day has mead at his Cafe Taste on Queen West.

[MarkhamDee]

Actually LCBO-Vintages does have at least one Mead on offer now, though it is a flavored mead: ROSSIGNOL ESTATE BLACKBERRY MEAD 2006, VINTAGES Item # 69708, $ 22.95. An inventory check on the LCBO site shows it's pretty widely available.

[redearth]

The Beer Store carries several different flavoured meads. I've only tried the black currant one, but I quite liked it. Not too sweet and not at all artificial tasting (however, other previous posters have likened Trafalgar Brewery's meads to sickly sweet coolers, FYI):

http://www.alesandmeads.com/
http://www.alesandmeads.com/?page_id=15
http://www.ontariocraftbrewers.com/brewery.php?brewery=trafalgar

http://www.thebeerstore.ca/Beers/branddetails.asp?id=3442
http://www.thebeerstore.ca/Beers/branddetails.asp?id=3441
http://www.thebeerstore.ca/Beers/branddetails.asp?id=3445
http://www.thebeerstore.ca/Beers/branddetails.asp?id=3440
http://www.thebeerstore.ca/Beers/branddetails.asp?id=3444
http://www.thebeerstore.ca/Beers/branddetails.asp?id=3443

If you're looking for the type of mead that is strictly yeast-fermented honey and water, however, you might have to contact the meaderies themselves (there are several in Ontario):

http://www.winesofcanada.com/mead.html

There have been other threads on this topic:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/509489

For elderberry syrup, I'd try Ikea. They usually carry both elderberry and lingonberry syrup.

Another good bet would be Viking Fine Foods and Catering, at 133 Laird:

http://www.milbreeviking.com/
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&h...