What?s the oldest honey that you have eaten?

[Lesgold]

Just read the Saltybluegrass thread with interest. Thought I?d ask a similar question. What is the oldest stored honey that you have eaten? I remember a few years ago I tried some of a mates honey that he harvested in 1974. Honey used to be stored in tins and this was the only issue. The tins were rusty on the outside and the honey had a distinct metallic flavour. I would like to try some in two years time and be able to claim that I?ve eaten a good vintage. (Or is that a veteran honey)

[TheHoneyPump]

4 years stored in cool place in the pails at the back of the shop
2 months in the fermenter
4 years in the bottle
... 8yrs 2mths = very exquisite honey-wine (mead) :)

[BeeMaster2]

5 year old honey from honey collected during my first year of beekeeping. It was a very dark honey good tasting honey. After five years s it had a licorice taste. It is possible I still have some of it in the pantry. I will have to look for it and see what it tastes like now. If I still have it it would bee 12 years old. I wonder if it taste like scotch now. 😊
Jim Altmiller

[Ben Framed]

 

Jim you have my attention. Let us know how it taste.

Phillip

[BeeMaster2]

I just checked, it is gone. I think Judy threw it away a few months ago while cleaning out the pantry.
Jim Altmiller

[Ben Framed]

Just for curiosity, what did you have it stored in?

[Michael Bush]

I probably have some from 1974... I don't know.  I never put it in tins for that reason.  I don't like metallic tasting honey.  Mine is all in either glass or plastic.  Most of it ends up in five gallon buckets.  It gets darker over time.  Fresh definitely tastes different than the same honey years later.

[BeeMaster2]

Just for curiosity, what did you have it stored in?

Just our standard glass pint mason jar.
Jim Altmiller

[G3farms]

I have a case or two from around the mid 80's if anybody is game.
It is not totally crystallized, dark as molasses. I haven't got the nerve up yet.

Some sitting in the kitchen window is a mix of wildflower and sourwood, the wildflower settled to the bottom and crystalized, the sourwood is on top and still liquid. It is starting to turn a little darker. Been in the window for, I'm not sure, but about 6 or 7 years. Was trying to see if mixing the two honey's together would stay mixed and all crystalize at the same time. I knew the wild flower would crystalize in about 6 to 8 months and the sourwood would take several years.

[Ben Framed]

I haven't got the nerve up yet.

I am curious G3. Let us know when you do try it.. Thanks

Phillip

[The15thMember]

I keep one jar of honey from every year, so in a few years I should be able to answer this question. 

[Ben Framed]

I keep one jar of honey from every year, so in a few years I should be able to answer this question. 

[JurassicApiary]

I got to taste 15-year old honey for a fellow beekeeper near me last month.  Still delicious. :)