>>>>> What is the shelf life of honey?>>>>>
 
Honey with a low water content (17% or less)  properly sealed against the 
ingress of moisture, will keep more or less for ever.  For many years I
have set aside samples with low water content just to see how they
progressed.  My oldest is 12 years.  It is still in perfect condition, no 
sign of fermentation.  It is opened once or twice a year just to taste it.  
It still tastes like honey and has remained a soft buttery texture.  The
sugar content is unchanged but I expect all the enzymes and vitamins have 
long since disappeared and the HMF increased.  No doubt an expert honey
taster would detect a loss of flavour but I think the average honey eater 
would accept it as normal.   
Mead also has a long shelf life, providing the alcohol level is high.-