In the days of old when knights were bold, the drink of choice was mead. Much more than a legendary drink with strong attachments to Ireland, mead can be traced back many centuries before Christ. It became the chief drink of the Irish, and was often referred to in Gaelic poetry.

Mead's influence was so great that the halls of Tara, where the high kings of Ireland ruled, were called the House of the Mead Circle. Its fame quickly spread and soon a medieval banquet was not complete without it.

Even the church recognized the value of mead. Legend has it that St. Finian lived for six days a week on bread and water, but on Sundays ate salmon and drank a full cup of Mead. In addition, St. Bridget performed a miracle when mead could not be located for the King of Leinster. She blessed an empty vessel, which miraculously became filled with Mead.

Marriage in the Middle Ages was quite different than it is today. To begin with, when people spoke of a good match, they were referring more to what someone could bring to the union in the way of possessions, rather than possibilities.

LET ME CALL YOU SWEETHEART

While the origin of the terms, "wedding", "bride," and "bridegroom" have been traced back as far as the 9th century, young men have been "wooing" young women only since the 11th century, about the same time that they first called each other "dear". We have only been calling each other sweetheart since the 13th century and we've only been "courting" since the 16th century. Even more recently than that, during the 17th century, young Irish men began referring to their sweetheart as a "flame."

But the term "honeymoon" may be older than most of the terms above. The phrase "honeymoon" did not evolve from a term of endearment or a description of an event. It literally depicted the period during the full moon after a wedding and what the couple did during that time.

If not for some Irish monks in the Middle Ages, none of us would refer to the post matrimonial period as a "honeymoon." Although it is said that the Monks originally produced the Mead for medicinal purposes, its popularity soon proved that it could make event people who were well feel even better.

Not to say that weddings would have been altered if Mead were not invented; it's more that the nature and quality of the celebration would have been affected. The honey-based drink itself was the origin of the term "honeymoon."

>Ever since the fame of the Irish monks brew spread throughout medieval Ireland, it was believed that mead was essential for sending off the bride and groom after the wedding. It was used as both a final toast and a proper beginning of the marriage. Following the wedding, the bride and groom were provided with enough mead to toast each other after their wedding, and hence the term "honeymoon."

This delicate, yet potent drink was not only considered the best way to start a new marriage, it was also believed to enhance such valued qualities as fertility and virility. On numerous occasions the groom, laced with generous amounts of mead, was carried by his friends to the bedside of his bride. If nine months later, a bouncing baby appeared, credit was given to the mead.

Reference have been found on mead as early as the 5th century and it was in wide use by the Middle Ages. So it seems that the "honeymoon" tradition may be even older than our contemporary wedding traditions.

But until very recently there was not an easy way to get Mead. Now it is available at Bunratty Winery just outside the famous Bunratty Castle in Ireland. Situated in the shadow of the 15th century castle in the county of Clare, the Bunratty Winery also offers Potcheen.

Potcheen is a clear, smooth Irish sirit that had been banned in Ireland since 1661. Distilled for centuries for its smooth, extra strong taste, this is the first Potcheen to be legally made and bottled Ireland.

Also known as moonshine or mountain dew, Potcheen is made from a malt, yeast, barley, water and sugar mixture. It has an impressive nose not unlike that of a fermenting mash in a brewery. Its taste is dry and grainy with a delightfully changing aftertaste that sweetens as it develops.

Potcheen is available in most Irish Duty Free Shops.

Bunratty Mead and Liqueur Company, Ltd.
Bunratty Winery
County Clare, Ireland
Telephone 061-362222
Fax 061-362-227

HELPFUL RESOURCES

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