Nidhoggr

In Norse mythology, Nidhoggr is a dragon who gnaws at the base of Yggdrasil, the 'World Tree'. Mead is a drink often associated with Norse history, although the drink itself can be dated back to around 2000 BCE in terms of written reference, although there is evidence a similar drink existed a few thousand years before that.

Mead itself is made from fementing honey mixed with water, and while it's different to wine the techniques are similar - indeed, wine yeasts are often used for the fermentation process. Fruits and spices can also be added to take the flavour profile in new directions, but mead in its purest form does indeed have sweet and sour notes that can be considered 'wine-y'.

Mainstream mead - as with most other mainstream alcohol brands - tends to overdo the sugar content in order to make it more palatable to as wide a taste as possible, but 'old-school' mead looks to get that balance of sweet and sour just right. Nidhoggr is made not far away from The Spirit Specialist, just outside York, a city with deep links to the Vikings, and uses honey and other ingredients sourced only in Yorkshire.

Fresh ginger root creates a fantastic spicy kick to counter the sweet honeyed notes, working wonderfully with the citrus notes that are found in the Traditional liquid. The heat of the ginger isn't too overpowering however, making this warming without being hot. Add a touch of soda water and a slice of lemon and you've got a delicious long drink for sunny days, but warm it up slightly in winter months and this will keep you cosy for hours!