Traditional Mead UK

BloodMoon Viking Mead Review: Honey & Black Cherry

BloodMoon Viking Mead is a 14.5% ABV honey-and-black-cherry-flavoured mead sold by Raven Forge. Its broody red colour and Ragnarök presentation promise something dramatic, but the drink itself is more measured: sweet honey, tart cherry-like fruit and refreshing acidity in a smooth, medium-bodied style.

Our verdict: an accessible sweet-tart mead for drinkers who want prominent honey without the syrupy weight of some conventional sweet meads. Ripe black cherry, dark fermented fruit and light caramel deepen the profile, while a crisp red-berry finish keeps it from becoming overly cloying. The Viking branding is theatrical, but the balance in the glass is modern and versatile.

At a glance

Raven Forge presents BloodMoon as its Viking-inspired modern take on a traditional drink. The company’s own Shopify product data identifies Broadland Drinks as the vendor and structured-data brand, rather than Raven Forge as the physical producer. Broadland Drinks says it develops, ferments and produces British-made drinks at The New Winery in Cawston, Norfolk.

The safest description is therefore a Raven Forge-branded mead for which the official store data identifies Broadland Drinks as vendor and brand. That is consistent with Broadland being the supplier or production partner, but no Broadland product page naming this exact bottle was located, so the physical production arrangement should not be treated as fully confirmed.

Appearance

BloodMoon pours a broody blood-red colour, immediately separating it from pale gold traditional meads. The colour fits the bottle’s Norse theme but also prepares the drinker for a darker fruit profile.

It is still rather than sparkling, with a smooth, medium-bodied texture. Despite the dramatic presentation, it does not feel excessively dense or syrup-like in the glass.

Nose

Wild honey and ripe black-cherry-like fruit lead the aroma. The honey is floral rather than merely sugary, while the fruit has a dark, fermented quality that feels deeper than cherry sweets or cordial.

Light caramel adds warmth underneath, with soft floral notes lifting the sweeter aromas. Together they suggest a rich drink, but a fresher fruit edge prevents the nose from becoming heavy.

Taste

Sweet honey arrives first, followed quickly by sharp, tangy black-cherry flavour. That contrast is the central feature of BloodMoon: the fruit does not simply add more sweetness, but gives the mead acidity and definition.

Dark fermented-fruit notes fill out the middle of the sip, accompanied by a light caramel-like warmth. The body is smooth and substantial enough for slow sipping without becoming as sticky or cloying as the sweetest dessert-style meads.

At 14.5% ABV, BloodMoon has wine-like strength and some warming depth. The acidity keeps that warmth and sweetness in proportion, making it more refreshing than its colour and Viking-themed bottle might imply.

Finish

The finish is medium in length and comparatively crisp. Tart red-berry flavours remain after the darker cherry-like character recedes, followed by warm honey.

That final sweet-tart exchange leaves the palate fresher than a purely honey-led finish would. It is the main reason BloodMoon can work both as a neat sipping mead and as a cocktail ingredient.

Does BloodMoon contain real black cherries?

Published descriptions consistently establish honey and black-cherry flavour, but the currently available product information does not provide a complete ingredients or allergen declaration. It therefore does not establish whether the fruit character comes from whole cherries, juice, concentrate, flavouring or another preparation.

For the same reason, this review does not classify BloodMoon definitively as a melomel. In mead terminology, melomel normally means mead made with fruit; flavour description alone is not enough to prove the production method. The bottle label or a current declaration from the supplier should be treated as the controlling source for ingredients and allergens.

Caramel, floral notes, dark fruit and tart red berries are tasting impressions, not claimed ingredients.

Why is it called BloodMoon?

Raven Forge’s story draws on the Norse wolves Sköll and Hati, who pursue the sun and moon. At Ragnarök, the wolves catch their prey and the moon takes on a blood-red hue. The mead’s colour, name and label translate that legend into a bottle designed for Viking, fantasy and history enthusiasts.

The theme is presentation rather than evidence for an ancient recipe. Raven Forge explicitly describes BloodMoon as a modern take on a traditional drink, and its reduced-sweetness, honey-and-cherry profile is best understood on those terms.

How to serve BloodMoon Viking Mead

For the fullest honey and dark-fruit aroma, start with a 75–100ml pour at room temperature in a small wine glass. A drinking horn suits the theme, but clear glassware makes it easier to appreciate the red colour and concentrates the aroma more effectively.

Light chilling or a few ice cubes make the acidity feel brighter and reduce the impression of sweetness. Ice is useful for a longer casual serve, although gradual dilution will soften both the honey and black-cherry character.

BloodMoon can also work as a sweet-tart cocktail modifier. Try a smaller measure in place of sweet vermouth or fruit liqueur alongside whisky, dark rum or gin, then add citrus or bitters cautiously: the mead already provides sweetness and acidity.

A drinking horn has appeared in some past promotions and retailer copy, but Raven Forge’s current product page describes the bottle itself. Check the live offer rather than assuming a horn is included with every purchase.

Food pairings

BloodMoon’s honey, dark-fruit flavour and acidity make it useful with both savoury and sweet food:

Where to buy BloodMoon Viking Mead

Product details, price and availability checked: October 2026. Raven Forge listed the 70cl bottle in stock at £18.99, reduced from £22.99. Prices, promotions, stock and any bundled drinking horn can change, so check the live retailer page before ordering.

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For other British-made bottles, see English Meads. For general retailer advice and more UK buying options, see Buy Mead UK.