Our Story

About Five hives & Vines

Five Hives & Vines LLC is a micro-meadery with big aspirations. We started with a modest five hives in our backyard, and a sincere interest to produce a unique, high-quality beverage. We will offer mead made with local honey and agricultural products. Five Hives is a family-owned, family-friendly gathering place, and unique destination.

We believe mead is an experience. We invite you to enjoy an exclusive and memorable encounter on Kennedy Pond. Five Hives & Vines adjoins a 316-acre Carolina Bay that is protected by The Kennedy Pond Conservancy Inc. Come sip, sit, stroll, and play.

Telling the Bees

Telling the bees is an ancient and fascinating tradition where beekeepers would share important life events—such as births, deaths, marriages, and departures. The tradition is based on the belief that bees are aware of a family’s emotions and will only thrive if treated as part of the family. If the bees are not told of an event, it was believed that they would be punished, such as by leaving the hive, dying, or stopping honey production.

Our Five Hives family invites you to tell the bees of the happenings in your lives.

In His Service,

Eric Van Otteren
Mead Maker