Complete Review of Queen’s Reward Meadery
Opened in May 2018, Queen’s Reward is Mississippi’s first meadery. They produce small-batch meads with 100% Mississippi honey.
We visited the meadery and tried 5 different meads and four mead slushies. Here’s our complete review of Queen’s Reward Meadery.
Location: 1719 McCullough Boulevard; Tupelo, MS 38804
As we walked into Queen’s Reward Meadery, we were greeted by the sweet smell of honey. This is our first time visiting a meadery, so we’re excited to learn more about this unique type of alcohol.
The owner, and the Queen Bee herself, Jeri, starts the tasting by giving us a brief history of mead. Mead is an alcoholic drink that has been around for centuries. It was originally made with honey, water, and yeast and was thought to be a gift from the Gods.
Today, mead is made with a variety of ingredients, including honey, fruit, spices, and hops. Queen’s Reward specializes in traditional meads made with 100% Mississippi honey.
Located in an industrial-looking building, Jeri has done a fabulous job with the decor – as evidenced by the events she holds there! A baby shower was happening in the private room while we were there – how cute, right? Pooh-Themed in a honeycomb & bee-decorated meadery!
When you step in, you are transported into an almost magical feeling of being INSIDE a honeycomb! Everything smells delicious, the “worker bees” are all “buzzing” around, the place is hopping, and many eclectic pieces are shaped like a honeycomb! It is really a beautiful place, but everyone was super sweet and inviting, too!
I also love that the owner, Jeri, is super involved in the goings on of the meadery – it is a true family-run business and you can feel that in the spirit of the place.
Table of Contents
What are the hours of operation?
The hours of operation for Queen’s Reward Meadery in Tupelo, Mississippi are:
Sunday & Monday – closed
Tuesday & Wednesday – 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Thursday to Saturday – 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Hours are subject to change, so please verify ahead of time or check their Facebook page to ensure they’re open. Their Facebook page is a great place to learn about any of the many events hosted by Queen’s Reward!
What is mead?
Mead is an alcoholic beverage that is created by fermenting honey and water. It has a long history and references to mead in ancient texts from many different cultures.
The flavor of mead can vary depending on the type of honey used, as well as the other ingredients added during the fermentation process. Some meads are dry, while others are quite sweet.
In recent years, mead has experienced a renaissance, with new breweries popping up around the world. Thanks to this resurgence in popularity, it is now easier than ever to find high-quality mead to enjoy.
How is mead made?
First, the honey and water are combined and placed in a container where yeast can be added.
Once the yeast has been added, the mixture is left to ferment for several weeks.
After fermentation is complete, the mead is bottled and allowed to age for a period of time.
The final product is a sweet, slightly acidic drink with an alcohol content that ranges from seven to fourteen percent.
The addition of other ingredients, such as fruits, spices, or malt, can create different flavors and types of mead.
What to Expect at The Queen’s Reward
When you visit Queen’s Reward Meadery, you should totally get the tasting! It is currently only $12 a person and includes a complimentary wine glass! You get to try a variety of meads made with 100% Mississippi honey.
They will give you a brief history of mead and explain how mead is made. You can also expect to see an eclectic mix of decor that includes a honeycomb motif.
The staff is super friendly and welcoming, and the atmosphere is fun and upbeat.
Queen’s Reward Menu
The Queen’s Reward is not a restaurant; it is a Meadery. However, you can get a fabulous charcuterie board to enjoy with your drinks.
She sometimes has food trucks come to the parking lot, too!
The Tasting
Our tasting was for the five Meads they currently had on hand, and it was not only delicious but super educational.
As teachers, we are always wanting to learn something, so this was right up our alley. We really connected with former school-teacher turned Meadery owner, Jeri Carter for obvious reasons. But also, she is a true joy who epitomizes Southern Hospitality!
We were able to taste the following in order from driest to sweetest. They are in that order below:
Scarlett Noir
Scarlett Noir is a unique mead that is made with a blend of honey and grape juice. This combination results in mead with a 13.5% alcohol content that has a Pinot-like flavor, but finishes smoothly with a sweet mouthfeel.
This mead is perfect for wine lovers who are looking to try something new, and it is also popular among diehard mead drinkers.
Delta Dry
Delta Dry is a mead made with a combination of saccharine Mississippi Honey and tart Riesling Grapes. The result is a dry, tart mead that is appreciated by wine and beer drinkers.
The subtly sweet taste of apples, pears, and apricots are beautifully brought out by apricot and floral aromas, making this mead perfect for those who prefer a dryer drink.
At 13% alcohol, Delta Dry mead has a higher alcohol content higher than your average wine or beer. But that’s not a bad thing. In fact, I actually found it quite enjoyable.
If you’re looking for something new to try and you’re into meads or dry wines, then I’d definitely recommend giving Delta Dry a shot.
Rubee
Originally a seasonal mead, Rubee was so popular that they are currently producing it year-round!
Rubee combines sweet Mississippi Honey with tart North American Cranberries yielding the perfect companion to a crisp Fall evening.
This mead has a bold cranberry flavor that is offset with notes of orange and a hint of spice from the Mississippi Wildflower Honey.
Delta Gold
Delta Gold is a delightful combination of Honey and pure Riesling grape juice.
The honey’s sweetness is balanced by the acidity of the Riesling grape, creating a pleasant flavor with a lot of fragrance and taste.
Apple and floral aromas complement the fruity characteristics of pear, peach, apple, and apricot.
Delta Gold has a lower alcohol content at only 11% than the other meads we tasted.
Winter Spice
Winter Spice mead is a semi-sweet drink that is enhanced with flavors of cinnamon, clove and nutmeg. This brings out all the flavors and memories of winter.
There is no doubt that Winter Spice tastes great chilled, but it really comes to life when served hot in a mug. With a slice of orange, this drink is sure to please anyone who tries it.
It is guaranteed to bring happiness and joy to everyone during the winter season.
After our tasting, she brought us a full flight of their slushies! Those were amazing. I actually ended up mixing the Blueberry with the Snow Cream, and it tasted like chocolate-covered berries – OMG!
Behind the Scenes Tour
I’m not sure if anyone can get a tour or if we were able because we are media members, but it was pretty cool to see the production room behind the bar and hear the history of how it has grown through the years!
So, ask if you can see where the magic happens; they just may allow it!
Interesting Facts about Queen’s Reward Meadery
We learned some pretty neat things during our two hours at Queen’s Reward!
Production Changed During the Pandemic
People weren’t hanging out at local Meadery lounges when the world shut down, so to keep her employees and to keep from losing her brand new business, Jeri switched to making hand sanitizer!
Then, with the help of some pretty awesome benefactors, she was actually able to give away all the bottles for free! How awesome is that story?
Mom Run, Pop Made
The production line was bought on eBay, and Jeri’s husband completely rehabbed and reimagined it to speed up things!
Before that, they were hand-bottling and labeling everything!
Mead is the New Wine
Mead is pretty much taking over the world, and it was really neat to hear Jeri’s passion for her product, as well as her vision for the future of Queen’s Reward.
Growing Pains
Due to the fact that the average fermenting period for mead is six weeks, they have the fabulous problem of having a much higher demand than they do production!
This is helping them to focus on quality over quantity, though they are hoping to add more fermenting tanks in the future!
The Details You Need
The following details help you plan your visit to (insert name here):
Parking:
There’s plenty of free parking in the two lots at Queen’s Reward.
Staff:
The staff is super fun and friendly, adding to the lounge’s overall ambiance.
Events:
Queen’s Reward hosts a multitude of events like Paint & Sip, SIngo (musical bingo), and you can even host your own party in their private room!
Our Favorites:
By far, my favorites were the Delta Gold and Winter Spice – that’s why we bought a bottle of each before we left for the night. 🙂 If we had been heading home, I would have grabbed a few frozen bags of the mead slushies, too!
Where to Buy:
You can buy Queen’s Reward Mead directly from the source online! They can ship to 41 states.
Some of the states not listed can receive shipments to an ABC store only (like here in Alabama). So, if your state isn’t listed, send a message to ask about your options!
Our Final Thoughts on the Queen’s Reward Meadery
If you’re looking for a fun and unique experience, be sure to check out Queen’s Reward Meadery.
With interesting facts, delicious meads, and a warm atmosphere, you won’t regret it!
And if you can’t make it to the physical location, no worries! You can buy their mead online and have it shipped right to your door. Cheers!
Have you ever had mead? I’d love to hear about your experience in the comments below!
DISCLOSURE: We were invited to The Queen’s Reward to enjoy a complimentary tasting in exchange for an honest review. Any opinions stated are strictly my own and were not influenced by anyone. Also, no money exchanged hands.
