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Archive for September, 2012

Review: Potter’s Traditional Dark Navy Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on September 30, 2012

According to Highwood DistillersPotter’s Traditional Dark Navy Rum is an imported Caribbean dark rum. I have been told that the rum is not an infant spirit, and based upon Canadian Law, all rum in Canada must be aged for at least one year in oak barrels. Apparently the rum was aged prior to importation; however, because Highwood stores the reserves in oak barrels in their aging warehouse, it would be true to say that some aging in Canada also occurs.

Potter’s Dark Navy Rum is bottled at 40 % alcohol by volume, and is sold in a 750 ml glass bottle, or in 1.14 and 1.,75 litre plastic PET bottles. I was provided with a sample of the 750 ml glass bottle directly from the folks at Highwood for the purpose of this review.

Here is an excerpt:

“… The first sip brings strong impressions of molasses and caramel with strands of licorice and musty tobacco running right through the middle of the flavour. Some oak spices are apparent too, and they are mingling with that molasses and caramel giving me indications of maple, vanilla, cinnamon, cloves and brown sugar… “

You may read the full review here:

Review: Potter’s Traditional Dark Navy Rum

I added a tiki recipe at the end of the review, the Potter’s Mai Tai,

Please Enjoy the review and the recipe.

Cheers!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Potter’s Traditional Dark Navy Rum

Review: Caribou Crossing Single Barrel Canadian Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on September 27, 2012

Although Canadian whisky by volume is the best-selling whisky in the USA, the perception of this class of whisky (amongst spirits writers and whisky critics) is that the Canadian spirit is perhaps thin and uninteresting, (fortunately the millions of people who buy whisky appear to be much more impressed than the critics and writers). The landscape however, appear to be changing, especially at the premium end of the whisky market, where the Canadian spirit has seen strong growth in market share. Recognizing this trend, the Sazerac Company has recently made a push towards the premium end of the Canadian Whisky market with two new releases, Caribou Crossing and Royal Canadian Small Batch Canadian Whiskies.

Caribou Crossing is what is known as a Single Barrel Whisky. From the company’s inventory of over 200,000 barrels of Canadian whisky, Sazerac’s whisky making team selects what they deem to be some of the very finest barrels. Each of these chosen barrels is bottled individually capturing its unique flavour. This means that each individual barrel offers a unique taste experience for the Canadian whisky connoisseur. I was fortunate enough to have been sent a sample bottle from the good folks at Charton Hobbs who are marketing this unique whisky for Sazerac, here in Alberta.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“… This is a whisky which grows a little in the glass as you let it breathe. The oak and the rye grain seem to gain strength as sawdust and rye husks fill the breezes above the glass. Fresh corn on the cob rises into those breezes; and impressions of butterscotch pudding and vanilla ice cream tempt me into taking my first sip… “

You may read the full review here;

Review: Caribou Crossing Single Barrel Canadian Whisky

Please enjoy my review, and my cocktail suggestion, the Canadian Rye Sazerac.

Cheers!

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Cocktails & Recipes, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Caribou Crossing Single Barrel Canadian Whisky

Review: Magic Moments Remix Green Apple Flavoured Vodka

Posted by Arctic Wolf on September 26, 2012

Yesterday, I introduced the Magic Moments Remix Flavoured Vodkas which are triple distilled grain spirits from Radico Khaitan Ltd. (Radio Cask), one of India’s oldest and largest liquor manufacturers. (Radico Khaitan was formerly known as the Rampur Distillery which was established in 1943.) I was sent a sample of each remix flavour earlier in the summer and asked if I could review each flavour on my website to published approximately as the line-up was launched across Canada.

AA Impex Ltd. has recently began to import the Magic Moments Vodka and the Remixes from India into Canada. The information I received indicates that the flavoured Remix Vodkas are distilled from 100 % rice grain and that only natural ingredients are used to produce the Remix Flavours. Today’s review is the Magic Moments Remix Green Apple Flavoured Vodka. Like all of the Remix flavours I was sent, it is bottled at 37.5 % alcohol by volume.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“… As soon as I opened the bottle I could detect a distinct green apple scent. My friends Connie and Lukasz who were with me for my first tasting practically squealed with delight when they brought the glasses to their noses as they each love the aroma and the taste of green apple. The spirit is crystal clear, and that wonderful green apple aroma just never stops. There is a light hint of sweetness to the aroma and all three of us could not wait to bring our glasses up to our mouths to take a sip… “

Here is a link to the full review:

Review: Magic Moments Remix Green Apple Flavoured Vodka

Of course I constructed a couple of nice cocktails with this new flavour, a Green Apple Darby, and a Green Apple and Tonic.

Please enjoy the review and my new cocktails!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Flavoured Vodka, Vodka, Vodka Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Magic Moments Remix Green Apple Flavoured Vodka

Review: Magic Moments Remix Lemongrass and Ginger Flavoured Vodka

Posted by Arctic Wolf on September 25, 2012

Magic Moments Remix Flavoured Vodkas are triple distilled grain spirits from Radico Khaitan Ltd. (Radio Cask) who is one of India’s oldest and largest liquor manufacturers. (Radico Khaitan was formerly known as the Rampur Distillery which was established in 1943.) The Magic Moments brand was launched in November of 2005, and quickly became India’s fastest growing deluxe vodka brand, and since then the company has also introduced 6 new vodka flavors or ‘remixes’, each bottled at 37.5 % alcohol by volume. These remix flavours are, Green Apple, Lemon, Orange, Chocolate, Raspberry, and Lemongrass and Ginger. All of these remix flavours have been recent award winners at the International Spirits Challenge and Monde Selection Award 2011. Here is a link to the Magic Moments Website where you wish you can learn more.

AA Impex Ltd. has recently began to import the Magic Moments Vodka and the Remixes from India into Canada. They sent me samples of each spirit such that they could be reviewed here on my website. This, of course, is the review for the Magic Moments Remix Lemongrass and Ginger Flavoured Vodka.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“… Once poured, the flavoured vodka displays a very obvious lemon scent. I liken this scent to the smell of lemon drop candies.  There is a bit of an herbaceous tinge to the aroma, similar to what I have likened in the past to sweetgrass. I suspect these are the grassy overtones of lemongrass and the pungent spiciness of ginger… “

Here is a link to the full review:

Review: Magic Moments Remix Lemongrass and Ginger Flavoured Vodka

Of course I made a few cocktails with this wonderful remix, one suggested by the Importer called Oriental Ale, and my cocktail called the Meadowland Breeze.

Please enjoy this review and the cocktails that follow, Cheers!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Flavoured Vodka, Vodka, Vodka Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Magic Moments Remix Lemongrass and Ginger Flavoured Vodka

Review: El Dorado 25 Year Old Vintage Reserve Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on September 23, 2012

The Diamond Distillery sits on the East Bank of the Demerara River near Georgetown, Guyana. The Distillery was originally part of the Diamond Estate which was the last of the Sugar Plantation Estates in Guyana to produce rum. Now, of course, it is home to Demerara Distillers Ltd. (DDL) who are popular across the world for their rich, Demerara Rum. Using a combination of venerable old wooden stills in conjunction with modern stills and distilling techniques, DDL, has built a reputation for outstanding quality and consistent production. In fact, Demerara Distillers is currently the largest supplier of bulk Caribbean Rum to Europe and North America.

The El Dorado 25 Year Old Vintage Reserve Rum is a blend of aged rums created to mark the turn of the millennium. It is blended from 25-year-old rum stocks which have been aged in used bourbon oak casks. This is quite different from those rums which feature a solera style age statement which highlights the oldest rum in the blend but also usually includes a high percentage of rum which is much younger.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“… The rum is sweet on the initial delivery with flavours of rich dark brown sugar leading out in front of delicious baking spices (vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves). Obvious flavours of dry fruit (raisins and dates) follow, accompanied by an oaken spiciness and impressions of fine port wine dipped cigars…”

Here is a link to the full review:

Review: El Dorado 25 Year Old Vintage Reserve Rum

Please enjoy the review!

(Note; This review is somewhat timely as I have just learned that Highwood Distillers Ltd. of Calgary, Alberta has been appointed the new agent for El Dorado Rums for British Columbia & Alberta effective immediately. The El Dorado brand had began to disappear from many of my favourite store’s shelves in recent months, and I am happy to report that they are returning and will now be distributed throughout both Provinces by the Highwood sales force to all liquor stores.)

Posted in Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , | 2 Comments »