Keep in mind Cyndy this was a 7 gallon batch and I split the batch after it stalled and racked it into 2 5 gallon carboys one with the crushed cherries and vanilla and one with just the vanilla. Once all the heavy fermentation settled down (3 weeks) I racked them into the 3 gallon carboys with a 1/2 gallon of each left over for topping off. Be very careful of how many vanilla beans you use because it does not take much. The amount of cherries you use is up to you, I wanted enough to get a nice color to the mead so I went a bit heavy. Also I was looking for a dry mead that I can age for a bit. This batch was started 1/1/2008 and its still just hanging out in the carboy. It may get bottled next January, I haven't decided.
Here you go, I cut it down to a 3 gallon batch size.
Cherry Vanilla Mead
3 gallons
10 Lbs. Tupelo Honey (to 1095)
Water to 3 1/2 gallons
Yeast Happiness (Nutrient, DAP)
Rehydrate yeast with Go Ferm
Lavlin 71B
I did aged both on oak for a while. Well checking back over my notes they are still on oak. Sure can't tell, both meads are still pretty hot but the vanilla is still very strong.
VPC