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Archive for September, 2012

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Review: Royal Canadian Small Batch Canadian Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on September 21, 2012

According to the information sent to me by Sazerac, Canadian whisky is a very big deal in the USA, accounting for sales of roughly 100 million liters of spirits. In fact, Canadian Whisky is responsible for a whopping 11.6 % of the overall spirits market in the USA. Although it has been popular for spirits writer’s and whisky critics to disregard the Canadian Whisky category, the truth is that North America has seen growth in sales of the premium and super-premium categories of Canadian Whisky over the last several years. Sazerac has been a participant in this growth with the launch of their new Single Barrel Canadian Whisky, Caribou Crossing, and their new Small Batch Canadian Whisky, Royal Canadian Small Batch.

The Royal Canadian Small Batch whisky has been constructed from a very small selection (50 barrels) of carefully chosen Canadian whisky barrels. Bottled at 40 % alcohol by volume, this is a 4 grain whisky which was blended from those selected barrels to not only have the smoothness traditionally associated with Canadian whisky; but to also carry robust taste profile forward for the 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, in Alberta.

Here is an excerpt from the resulting review:

“… The whisky sends an initial display of light oak, sweet butterscotch, and punky caramel corn into the breezes above the glencairn glass. As the whisky breathes, I notice some wood spices and sticky maple wandering upwards joined by vanilla and light almond accents. There is a fruitiness in the air represented by light impressions of dry fruit (plums and apricots), some fresh berries, and a little citrus zest, all of which seem to meld into that sticky maple aroma giving me impressions of freshly opened cans of apricots and pears… “

Here is a link to the full review:

Review: Royal Canadian Small Batch Canadian Whisky

As part of the review I designed a nice cocktail for this whisky called the Sazerac Splash. I hope you enjoy the cocktail and of course. I hope you enjoy my review!

Cheers!

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Cocktails & Recipes, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Royal Canadian Small Batch Canadian Whisky

Review: Appleton Estate 50 Year Old Jamaica Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on September 19, 2012

Appleton Estate 50 Year Old Jamaica Rum – Jamaica Independence Reserve is bottled from a blend of rums which have been aged for a minimum of 50 years. This is the second oldest rum I have ever tasted, the oldest being another Jamaican Rum, (a 58-year-old Gordon and Macphail bottling from the Longpond Distillery).

I was able to taste this rare bottle when I was invited to a private tasting which featured the Appleton Estate 50,  30 , 21, and 12 year old rums as well as the Master Blender’s Legacy. My host provided the 50 Year Old rum for the tasting, and I provided the other rums. Based upon how much money each bottle represented, I got by far the best end of that deal.

Here is an excerpt from my resulting review:

“… I sensed strong notes of oak and orange peel zest rising above the glass imprinted with deep dark brown sugar and baking spices. The dark brown sugar smells grow stronger over time as do the baking spices which display scents of spicy nutmeg, and cinnamon. I also smell walnuts and a strong impression of vanilla.A vague herbal note is in the air as well, which is hard for me to decipher, lemongrass perhaps…”

Please enjoy the review:

Review:  Appleton Estate 50 Year Old Jamaica Rum

Cheers!

Posted in Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Appleton Estate 50 Year Old Jamaica Rum

Review: M2 Magic Moments Vodka

Posted by Arctic Wolf on September 18, 2012

M2 Magic Moments Vodka is a triple distilled rice grain spirit from Radico Khaitan Ltd. (Radio Cask) who is one of India’s oldest and largest liquor manufacturers. (They were formerly known as the Rampur Distillery which was established in 1943.) The Vodka was launched in India in November of 2005, and it quickly became India’s fastest growing deluxe brand vodka. However, it is not just in India that this spirit has received accolades. Since 2008, Magic Moments Vodka has been a regular recipient of a gold medal for overall quality at Monde Selection in Belgium.

The M2 Magic Moments Vodka sent to me for review was bottled at 42.8 % alcohol by volume. It is distilled from grain rice, and blended with imported grain spirits from France. According to the information presented to me only a small amount of imported spirit is used, and this portion is also a rice based spirit. This makes the Magic Moments Vodka the first 100 % rice vodka I have ever tasted.

AA Impex Ltd. has recently began to import M2 Magic Moments Vodka (and the flavoured Remixes) from India into Canada. Earlier this summer I was sent samples of each spirit to review here on my website. These products have just began to arrive in Canada, and I have been told that the plans are for the entire line-up to be available not just in Alberta, but across the country. (Hopefully they will be available in the USA as well.) You may visit the Magic Moments Website where you wish you can learn more.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“… The M2 Vodka sample was lightly creamy and displayed some obvious citrus notes on the nose. There seemed to be a light spiciness rising into the breezes. When I sipped the vodka for the first time, that spice really took form in the mouth. I am not sure if this spiciness is indicative of the rice base for the vodka, but whatever the reason for the spice, it is  a wonderfully complex spiciness which I appreciate. I seem to taste light hints of mint, and light impressions of lemon and lime zest… “

Of course I managed a few nice cocktail recipes for this nice vodka, my Vodka Daiquiri, as well as the Summertime Breeze.

Here is a link to the full review which includes recipes for these delicious cocktail:

Review: M2 Magic Moments Vodka

Please enjoy the review and the fine cocktail suggestions.

Cheers!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Vodka, Vodka Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: M2 Magic Moments Vodka

Revealing Some Magic: The Oldest Bowmore Ever

Posted by Arctic Wolf on September 17, 2012

Today Morrison Bowmore announced the oldest ever Bowmore, and indeed, the oldest Islay Single Malt ever released:

The Bowmore 1957 – 54 Years Old Single Malt

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This Whisky was distilled in 1957 and bottled in 2011. It has been slumbering in oak for more than half a century in Bowmore’s legendary No.1 Vaults. Amazingly there are only 12 bottles in existence. Bowmore 1957 is the oldest and rarest ever Bowmore. This will sure be one of the most sought after and collectible Monumental Whiskies in the entire world.

Bottles No. 1 and No. 2 To Be Auctioned at Bonhams In Edinburgh and New York City this October With All Net Proceeds Donated To Charity

For more information click here:

BOWMORE 1957 – 54 YEARS OLD

(The 2 bottles that will be up for auction have a reserve set at £100,000 per bottle. If a person would like to buy one but not at the auctions, they will have to purchase from Bowmore Distillery on Islay, Scotland and the price will be £100,000.)

Posted in Extras, Scotch Whisky, Single Malt Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , , , | Comments Off on Revealing Some Magic: The Oldest Bowmore Ever

Review: Rum Nation Panama (Aged 21 years)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on September 16, 2012

Rum Nation has recently invaded my home Province of Alberta with a very interesting assortment of aged rums from the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. The man behind this invasion is Fabio Rossi, who began his life in the spirits trade as a Oenologist (one who has studied winemaking). After his studies, Mr. Rossi left the wine business and started up a whisky company in Edinburgh (Wilson and Morgan) acting as an independent bottler of Single Malt Scotch Whisky. His interest turned to rum and in 1999 Fabio Rossi founded Rum Nation. His company is headquartered in Italy; but Fabio purchases select rums from various distillers in the Caribbean and the Americas. As a result Rum Nation provides a rather unique assortment of rare limited edition rum bottlings.

One such Bottling is the Rum Nation Panama 21 Years.

According to the front of the bottle (translation provided by Fabio Rossi):

” Rum Nation Panama 21 years is a blend created from the expert hands of Don Francisco (Pancho) Fernández, Master Blender born in Cuba, with 40 years of experience in production of aged rums in central and south America. Rum Nation Panama 21 years is made from sugar cane molasses, distilled in continuous column and aged in American oak barrels (Quercus alba) for 21 years in Panama.”

Here is an excerpt from my review:

” …The rum leads out with the flavours of sweet candied fruit (apricot and peaches) and oak spices. I can also taste rich caramel and molasses which are mingled in nicely with underlying leather and tobacco flavours. Raisins, dates, prunes and chocolate give the rum a nice smokiness. Although the rum has apparently never seen the inside of a sherry cask, I cannot deny that sherry-like flavours abound in the taste profile… “

You may read the full review here:

Review: Rum Nation Panama (Aged 21 years)

Please enjoy my review of this excellent rum!

Cheers!

Posted in Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Rum Nation Panama (Aged 21 years)

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