The latest news, trends, analysis, interviews and podcasts from the global food and beverage industry

UK mead producer Hive Mind has launched a dark cherry variant, signalling a renewed push to bring the honey-fermented beverage back into the spotlight for younger drinkers.

Blending traditional mead-making with trend-forward dark cherry flavouring and Norse-inspired branding, the launch positions mead as a premium, heritage-led alternative in the busy flavoured alcohol space.

The new expression offers a rich, tart-fruited profile that balances honey sweetness with natural acidity.

Hive Mind says it aims to appeal to younger consumers, particularly Gen Z and Millennials, who are seeking authentic, naturally flavoured drinks with depth and character.

The move reflects growing interest in historic and craft alcohol categories, as well as the broader fruit-led alcohol segment. As younger legal-age consumers increasingly seek drinks that are less sweet and more natural, mainstream fruit ciders have begun to face flavour fatigue.

Hive Mind’s dark cherry mead offers a differentiated alternative, providing craft credentials and a provenance story that many cider brands struggle to match.

🍒 Cherry has emerged as one of the leading fruit flavour trends in 2026, gaining traction across food and beverages as consumers increasingly favour bold, tart profiles over overly sweet formats. Read more about the latest fruit flavour trends here 🍒

While still niche compared with cider or craft beer, mead provides scope for flavour innovation, premium pricing and modernised heritage positioning.

Hive Mind plans to roll out the dark cherry mead across specialist drinks retailers, on-trade bars and taprooms, with potential expansion into premium grocery and e-commerce channels.

The brand says additional flavours are in development, signalling a longer-term strategy to modernise mead and increase its visibility in the flavoured alcohol market.

For manufacturers and retailers, Hive Mind’s move demonstrates how historic categories can be refreshed to meet changing consumer expectations and capture attention in a crowded flavoured alcohol landscape.

The launch highlights the commercial potential of reinvigorating heritage alcohol formats, combining authenticity, storytelling and natural ingredients to meet shifting consumer preferences.