In which Ricky the Meadmaker shares some of his favorite Ask the Meadmaker moments.
This is my 100th episode, which means that I've answered something like 500 questions about mead, which is, I kid you not, a working definition of insane.
Welcome to Ask the Meadmaker where I have answered your questions about mead making, mead drinking, mead brewing for four years now!
So today we're going to do a little retrospective of some of my favorite moments.
Come with us now on a journey through time and space.
Mannaz. Pours pale yellow with bubbles. [Ricky takes an enormous drink, nearly an entire pint] Tastes good. Second taste of the day. Valkyries choice. [Another series of enormous gulps] Also tastes good. Fenberry Draught. [A third series of desperately thirsty swallows] Tastes redder than the others.
So, apparently, we have to shoot it again because I'm supposed to take small samples and swish them around in my mouth and spit. I can do that. This is Valkyries choice here. Smells good. [RICKY TAKES A SMALL SIP AND GARGLES. HE SPEWS THE MEAD ACROSS THE FLOOR.]
This is black tie. Also known as a tuxedo, also known as formal wear. This is not formal. This is a suit, and I'm not even wearing a tie. This is still not a tuxedo, even though it's black. Now this is formal but it is afternoon formal and does not belong in a black tie event. This is not formal, but you have all the pieces of a tuxedo Ricky. But you have all the parts of a tuxedo Ricky. Formal is more than the sum of its parts. I reiterate, this is formal.
I can't leave I'm expecting guests. Can you pull the door behind you? Thank you.
The Ice Bucket Challenge is pretty much just part of my daily workout routine. 58, 59, 60. Bully.
Now, I may have implied in the last take that you can't like sip and enjoy craft Mead. That's not right. What is this? Something with cranberry in it is a really delicate flavor and you can certainly do dainty sips of it. Whereas, with a honey wine, there's nothing wrong if you really love it, just throwing it -- what?
But over the last few months, we've gotten a lot of long form questions, things that take a lot of research or time and it's not that we don't want to answer your questions. We are getting to them. We are writing full articles about them. The problem is, I want to introduce you to our research guy. This is Ricky the researcher. You can tell that he's not Ricky the Meadmaker because he wears a hat and I'm better looking.
It all starts weeks before the big night with my Henry Fonda workout tapes.
After 46 years, I really have to remind myself, this has got to be the climax. This has got to be the climax. I really have to remind myself, this has got to be the climax.
That's it. We're just gonna put the barest, teeniest, tiniest drop. Perfect.
Didn't get bitten by a dog while I was sanitizing. I'm having a good day. Actually, he sounds like a professional meadmaker. Like, I got to work and no one on my staff is dead. This is wonderful. So pleased.
So, I don't know if you've heard her already in the episode, but this is our new cinematographer. She's been behind the camera the whole time. So, she has lots of comments to make about our shooting style.
Nora
Ah-ah-ah.
Ricky
Mm hm.
Nora
Ah-ah-ah.
Ricky
Mm hmm.
Are you sure it wouldn't be better if I do it like a singing telegram? The show's not funny.
That's the end of the science portion of this video. So, here's more baby cow, as promised.
So what have we learned from this? I clearly used to have a lot more time to make these episodes. Keep sending your questions and I'll get to them as soon as possible. Cheers.
