Tobacco Suggestions with Mead

Log in

SmokingPipes.com Updates

Watch for Updates Twice a Week

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

reloader

Lifer
Dec 5, 2021
1,980
23,982
Southern, NM
While on a Thanksgiving trip to visit inlaws in Texas the wife and I stopped in Fredericksburg and did some wine tastings. I picked up some jalapeno honey mead, but don't have a clue as to what blend to smoke with it. Open to suggestions. Thanks for any input.mead.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Laurent and Kobold
You need a blend with something to work the exact opposite taste buds. You’re getting sweet and heat from the jalapeños, so maybe something savory or sour even would compliment the mead. Maybe Early Morning Pipe or Presbyterian. I prefer a burley with little to no toppings or casings, so I would choose MacBarens Burley Flake or an aged burley. But, something oriental heavy with little to no latakia would work to bring out that sour flavor.

But, if your looking to match the flavors like some might choose. Maybe Newminsters Superior Navy Flake is a sweet Virginia with a touch of honey. But, I don’t try to match flavors, I look for the full flavor experience trying to balance the flavors. YMMV
 

karam

Lifer
Feb 2, 2019
2,569
9,822
Basel, Switzerland
That label…looks like it was made in MS Powerpoint, probably was!
I’m with cosmic, having also brewed a couple of hundred litres of mead. Need something fairly opposing the mead’s sweetness (all commercial meads are insanely sweet as a rule of thumb) so you get a nice contrast bring out the flavours. Something with Latakia or DFK are likely good pairings.
 

pipingfool

Can't Leave
Sep 29, 2016
369
1,479
Seattle, WA
If you have some, I would think C&D Sun Bear would pair quite nicely with this. The honey/elderflower/tequila topping should match the two nicely. The honey part is obvious, but blanco/silver tequilas often have a green pepper/vegetal note to them. That's why they pair nicely with jalapenos!

I also think the Orientals in the blend would be a nice earthy/sour/incense counterpoint that would tie the whole pairing together.

So you would be playing both the compliment and the contrast sides of the field.

Just my thoughts.

Happy Puffing, and let us know what you go with and how it works (or doesn't; even bad pairings reveal information!)
 

reloader

Lifer
Dec 5, 2021
1,980
23,982
Southern, NM
You need a blend with something to work the exact opposite taste buds. You’re getting sweet and heat from the jalapeños, so maybe something savory or sour even would compliment the mead. Maybe Early Morning Pipe or Presbyterian. I prefer a burley with little to no toppings or casings, so I would choose MacBarens Burley Flake or an aged burley. But, something oriental heavy with little to no latakia would work to bring out that sour flavor.

But, if your looking to match the flavors like some might choose. Maybe Newminsters Superior Navy Flake is a sweet Virginia with a touch of honey. But, I don’t try to match flavors, I look for the full flavor experience trying to balance the flavors. YMMV
I believe I have all of those in the cellar, so I'll pick a couple and try them with the mead when I open it. Thanks for the suggestions.
 

reloader

Lifer
Dec 5, 2021
1,980
23,982
Southern, NM
That label…looks like it was made in MS Powerpoint, probably was!
I’m with cosmic, having also brewed a couple of hundred litres of mead. Need something fairly opposing the mead’s sweetness (all commercial meads are insanely sweet as a rule of thumb) so you get a nice contrast bring out the flavours. Something with Latakia or DFK are likely good pairings.
I've got some DFK that I'll try with the mead as well as a couple of the suggestions from cosmic. I'm sure I can get through at least three pipes while drinking that bottle.
 

Architeuthis

Can't Leave
Jan 17, 2021
330
2,321
I'd like some toast with my spicy honey so I'd go for a bready, rich, full-flavored virginia like FVF, BBF, or Capstan Blue.
 
  • Like
Reactions: reloader

dcicero

Part of the Furniture Now
Apr 23, 2019
591
2,886
Michigan
While on a Thanksgiving trip to visit inlaws in Texas the wife and I stopped in Fredericksburg and did some wine tastings. I picked up some jalapeno honey mead, but don't have a clue as to what blend to smoke with it. Open to suggestions. Thanks for any input.View attachment 188664
For strong flavored drink I prefer something that won't compete, so I'd probably try a straight VA.
 
  • Like
Reactions: reloader

reloader

Lifer
Dec 5, 2021
1,980
23,982
Southern, NM
I haven't opened it yet. May be a little while. Once I try it with a few blends I'll post. When we did the tasting in Fredericksburg it was wonderful. My wife thought it was too sweet, but I thought the spice of the jalapeno tamed that a bit.
I haven’t had a good mead in some time. I’m going to have to pick some up. How’s the jalapeño mead?
 

Laurent

Lifer
Dec 25, 2021
1,514
16,694
44
Michigan
I haven't opened it yet. May be a little while. Once I try it with a few blends I'll post. When we did the tasting in Fredericksburg it was wonderful. My wife thought it was too sweet, but I thought the spice of the jalapeno tamed that a bit.
Sounds good