Moonlight Meadery How "Bout Them Apples

This is a 13.5% ABV mead, a traditional fermented beverage using honey, from Moonlight Meadery of Londonderry, New Hampshire. It is labeled as a New England Style Honey Apple Wine using fresh pressed apples and honey, conditioned in used barrels. Wondering if it is actually any different from the Thirteen 5?

This pours a hazy golden. It is very effervescent, pours like an Alka-Seltzer. The aroma is bright, tart, crisp apples, and slightly funky barrel wood. There is some honey, but it is in the background. The taste is a nice amalgam of tart apple, funky wood, and honey that comes on stronger than in the aroma. The honey adds a bready, pastry note. This has a full, but not heavy body, and crisp carbonation as well. The alcohol is very warming. This is quite good and I much prefer it over the Thirteen 5.