Cheers: Hot toddy

The traditional wedding wine, mead, has long been made by homebrewers but has been less available commercially. Specialty shops like Martin Wine Cellar carry some varieties, and it’s fun to pick a few up to see how this honey wine—which has been around for centuries and was the inspiration for the term “honeymoon,” for when it was consumed—is being interpreted. It’s a bracing, sweet taste with a texture that lies somewhere between beer and vino. Mead’s heavy body and aggressive profile make it work better in colder months; in fact, it’s often mulled with spices and served hot. Click here to check out our picks.