Honey is good for a lot of things, but in Mel Vocatus, the sweet natural syrup serves an unexpected purpose. People commonly use honey as an addition to tea, an ingredient in baking, or as flavoring for sauces, but Michigan-based distillery Ethanology used honey as the sole ingredient for one of its newest spirits, Mel Vocatus, which is Latin for honey alcohol.
According to Ethanology, "honey develops a spirit that is rich, balanced, and savory, [with] caramel, vanilla, and almond notes." The well-known taste of honey also makes its way through in the end notes of Mel Vocatus, remind tasters of the key ingredient.
The spirit is made from 100 percent Northern Michigan honey, a local ingredient that makes the beverage as sustainable as it is smooth (despite its 40 percent ABV).
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Honey-based Alcoholic Beverages
- Opportunity to create an entire industry around honey-based alcoholic beverages, providing a unique flavor profile and potential health benefits.
- Sustainable Distilling
- Opportunity to create a sustainable, locally-sourced distilling industry, using locally-sourced ingredients to create unique, environmentally-friendly spirits.
- Alternative Ingredient Spirits
- Opportunity to experiment with alternative ingredients in spirits beyond the traditional grains and fruits, creating a new category of unique flavored spirits.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Craft Distilling
- Small-batch craft distilleries can incorporate locally sourced honey to create unique honey-based spirits with a sustainable focus.
- Health-focused Beverages
- Opportunity for health-focused beverage companies to incorporate honey, a natural and potentially beneficial ingredient, into their products.
- Luxury Spirits
- Honey-based spirits can be marketed as a unique and upscale alternative to traditional spirits, appealing to a luxury consumer demographic.
