Hidden Legend Winery The King’s Mead Review

The King’s Mead comes from Hidden Legend Winery out of Montana. It’s the first mead i’ve tried from them, and also the first Montana Mead I’ve had.

It pours a clear pale yellow with no carbonation and some moderate legs around the glass. I drank it at room temperature, and I think this allowed the aroma to present itself nicely. It smells of sweet honey with a little peppery spice. I also get some boozy notes and hints of fruit – namely apple.

The taste is sweet honey all throughout. Some spice and fruit are also present, but the sweetness is definitely king. Even with all that sweetness some of the boozy flavors still come through. There’s a nice alcohol warmth that lingers in the throat after a few sips – which is nice in the winter. It’s quite drinkable, but after a while I tire of the sweetness. It becomes a little sickly sweet by the end of the glass.

Here’s Hidden Legend’s description of The Kings Mead:

Known in Greek Mythology as “necter of the gods,” mead became the exclusive drink of royalty. Our King’s Mead wine captures all the qualities that inspired centuries of poetry, legend, and song.

This traditional honey mead is made in the style of the old world. It has a very smooth sweet honey flavor. You can enjoy this delightful honey wine on its own or with dessert. If you want mead wine that is less sweet, try our award winning Pure Honey Mead. If you are looking for a traditional style, sweet, honey mead then this is the one for you!

I feel like Hidden Legend Winery knows who they are and who they want to be. They are heavily tied to the historical nature of mead and they present that proudly through their brand. The label, though not my particular aesthetic, I feel is well considered. Most of the elements, from the illustration and the shield shape in which it resides, to the ragged border, typography and horse head pattern at the top all have a similar narrative. Even the mead flavor itself reminds me of a mead of yore – something kings and vikings once drank in vast mead halls. While I don’t see the King’s Mead achieving mass market appeal, it seems to fit the “Nectar of the Gods” historical beverage niche.

On thing that I think might trip them up from a branding standpoint is the lack of a versatile logo. The viking they use across their product line, is an incredible illustration. It’s a great “mascot” – but it’s far too detailed to be a useful logo. Then there’s the wordmark which is too lightweight for the heaviness of the brand and products.

Overall, not really a mead for me – but I can see the appeal for those seeking a mead to drink from a horn as they watch Game of Thrones.

If you are one of those people, you can buy The Kings Mead on Amazon.