Master Sommelier Reviews NZ Mead
Undisturbed is founded on the hypothesis that New Zealand (NZ) produces some of the finest, highly distinctive honey in thy world, and therefore NZ mead can be world-class. Furthermore, world-class NZ mead powerfully represents the landscape and flora of Aotearoa such that it belongs on the menus of restaurants and the shelves of all good liquor retailers.
At Undisturbed we’ve worked passionately towards this vision. As people have had the chance to taste the meads, we’ve grown more confident in its truth.
Then, last week, the most highly trained palate in NZ tasted our mead and provided careful review. Cameron Douglas in New Zealand’s only Master Sommelier and is a leading voice globally for NZ made wine. We connected with Cameron over instagram and he kindly offered to review our mead.
Our mead maker, Sam, chose to send three meads; Rhubarb mead, Manuka mead, and the yet to be released 2026 Manuka Special Reserve. Here are Mr. Douglas’s reviews:
Rhubarb Mead
A polished gold and pink hued appearance leads to a bouquet of classic mead with a fragrant leesy an floral quality, rose and wild flowers, honey and cold stone earthy quality. Enticing, fragrant and unique. On the palate a lush and sweet mead with a satin touch and flavours of rose and rhubarb, honeysuckle and honey with a purity of flavour, fine lees complexity and lengthy finish. Definitely serve chilled, best from day of purchase through to 2030. 92 - Premium
Manuka Mead
The bouquet is uniqiue with scents of wild flowers and honeysuckle, manuka flowers then suggestions of honey and a quiet yet exotic perfume. On the palate a fresh mead taste with a quiet rush of sweetness then honey, manuka and wild flowers. Persistent, lengthy and well made, a beverage for everyday drinking and a natural alternative to wine and other alcoholic beverages. Natural with a light leesy quality. Best from day of purchase through to 2030. Perhaps keep chilled once open. 93 - Excellent
Special Reserve 2026 Manuka Mead
Deep golden hues and very bright lead to a bouquet of complexity and intrigue. Enticing scents of Manuka honey and wood smoke, oak spices and peach and nectarine, wild flowers and honeysuckle. Hints of vanilla crem-patissiere and oatmeal. On the palate an equally complex and interesting mead, unique and flavourful, honeyed yellow fruits, sweet flowers and with an exotic vanilla and wood spices complexity. Persistent, lengthy and well made. Best from day of purchase through to 2030. Perhaps keep chilled once open. 95 - Outstanding
The Cameron Douglas Rating Scale:
Here’s how our mead maker feels about this:
“To have someone of Cameron Douglas’ caliber taste and enjoy our meads is a special feeling. It’s as strong as an endorsement imaginable that Aotearoa mead belongs in the conversation alongside New Zealand’s finest wines. These reviews inspire me to continue to pursue excellence and explore more of NZ’s flora.”
