Sorry, I didn't really answer the question completely.
Many, including Adams and myself, consider six months to be the
minimum time to age the mead _in the bottle_.
Mead is the bonsai of beverages...two to four months primary
fermentation (with perhaps a racking in between), then six months in
bottle. There are some who suggest aging in bottle for a minimum of
two years, claiming that the mellowing over that time is worth the
wait. When I make a batch, all bottles save one are aged for six
months. The last is my two-year-plus private stock. And yes, putting
that single bottle aside is worth it.
Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, Festive Festivus, Blessed Solstice,
or whatever you are celebrating.
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ORGINAL POSTER: gene
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