Take a quick tour through mead’s 9,000-year story

From Neolithic discoveries to Norse legends and a modern revival, mead has always meant celebration, craft, and community. Explore the milestones below — then taste the tradition.

1. ~7000–6600 BCE
   

   Neolithic China: the first honey ferment

   Chemical residues in pottery from Jiahu show a mixed drink of rice, honey and fruit — the earliest known alcoholic beverage.

   What we know

   Archaeochemical analysis indicates honey was part of the ferment, placing honey-wine among humanity’s earliest drinks.

   Read the research Taste our Traditional
2. Bronze & Classical Ages
   

   Egypt, Greece & beyond: mead at the feast

   Across early civilisations, honey-wine accompanies ritual, medicine and myth — a sweet “nectar” long before grape wine takes over.

   See more

   Mead appears in texts and traditions across the Mediterranean and Near East, often tied to celebration and ceremony.

   Smithsonian overview Explore Special Reserve
3. Roman Britain
   

   Romans & honey-wine on our shores

   Finds from Wroxeter and Hadrian’s Wall suggest mead was made here in the Roman period; honey also sweetened wines like mulsum.

   Dig into the finds

   English Heritage highlight archaeological evidence and mead’s long link to Britain — right up to today’s resurgence.

   English Heritage article Try Ancestral Mead
4. Medieval Europe
   

   Mead in monasteries and great halls

   Honey, herbs and patience — monastic tradition keeps mead alive while banquets across Europe raise horn and cup.

   Story notes

   Recipes diversify with spice and herb additions; mead remains a symbol of hospitality and celebration.

   Discover Elderflower
5. Norse Myth
   

   The Mead of Poetry

   Odin steals a magical mead brewed from Kvasir’s blood — any who drink it gain wisdom and poetic spark.

   Why it matters

   The tale links mead with inspiration itself — a metaphor for craft and creativity that still resonates today.

   Read retelling Cherry & Blushing Citrus
6. 18th–20th C.
   

   From quiet years to a modern revival

   As beer, wine and spirits scale up, mead recedes — but never disappears. Today, craft makers bring it back in style.

   Modern momentum

   Heritage groups and makers report growing interest, with new styles and pairings appearing everywhere.

   Resurgence notes Explore Special Reserve
7. Today
   

   Woden Distillery: tradition, refined

   We honour old methods with modern precision. Real honey. Clean fermentation. Flavours inspired by nature and myth.

   How we make it

   Balanced sweetness, careful ageing, and a focus on clarity make our meads smooth, characterful and food-friendly.

   Shop the range Read FAQs