CLARKSVILLE, TN. (CLARKSVILLEN NOW) – Tennessee’s first meadery, Trazo Meadery, has been introducing Clarksville to this unusual wine since May 2020 at its downtown location.

“Mead is a lot like wine, but instead of using grape juice, we use honey,” said founder Travis Powell. “There are all different types of meads, but we make what is called a ‘show mead,’ so the only things in it are honey, water and yeast. So all of the flavor that comes through is from the different types of honey we use.”

Travis Powell, pours a glass of mead at Trazo Meadery, 116 Franklin Street in downtown Clarksville May 2021 (Lee Erwin).
A flight board of popular meads and meats, cheeses, and breads, that can be found at Trazo Meadery in downtown Clarksville May 2021 (Lee Erwin).
Trazo Mead is located at 116 Franklin St. in downtown Clarksville, May 2021 (Lee Erwin).
Customers enjoy a taste of mead at Trazo Meadery, 116 Franklin St. in downtown Clarksville.
Customers who have been shopping in downtown Clarksville enjoy a break and enjoy a glass of mead at Trazo Meadery, 116 Franklin St. in downtown Clarksville May 2021 (Lee Erwin).
Customers who have been shopping in downtown Clarksville enjoy a break and enjoy a flight board of mead at Trazo Meadery, 116 Franklin St. in downtown Clarksville May 2021 (Lee Erwin).
The Trazo Mead staff are ready to serve up a glass or a flight board of mead or a menu filled with meats, cheeses and bread at 116 Franklin St. in downtown Clarksville May 2021 (Lee Erwin).
Customers who have been shopping in downtown Clarksville enjoy a break and enjoy a flight board of mead at Trazo Meadery, 116 Franklin St. in downtown Clarksville May 2021 (Lee Erwin).
Trazo Meadery, serving up mead at 116 Franklin Street in downtown Clarksville May 2021 (Lee Erwin).
One of Trazo Meadery’s special blends of cider sits atop their lighted bar and is waiting for you in downtown Clarksville, May 2021 (Lee Erwin).
One of Trazo Meadery’s special blends of cider sits atop their lighted bar and is waiting for you in downtown Clarksville, May 2021 (Lee Erwin).

Powell said they have been making and selling mead since 2016, all of it made in nearby Adams, and they started by selling to bars and restaurants. As their mead became more popular, they opened their site on Franklin Street. Just a year later, they’re working on an expansion of the kitchen in the back.

The honey comes from all over the world, and some of it is from Middle Tennessee. Local beekeepers don’t produce enough honey for Trazo, but Powell is working on plans to gather them into a special-edition local blend.

Eight meads are on tap at Trazo, and you can get them by the glass or on a five-drink flight board. Trazo also sells four different ciders, made in-house with no artificial flavorings or sweeteners.

On the food menu are cured imported meats, cheeses, olives and bread.

Trazo Meadery, 116 Franklin St., is open Fridays from 3-11 p.m., Saturdays 11 a.m.-11 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m.-5 p.m. For more, go to trazomead.com, or call 931-255-9421.