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Archive for September, 2012

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Review: Siesta Key Spiced Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on September 10, 2012

The subject of this review: the Siesta Key Spiced Rum is an interesting spirit. Founder (and Distiller) of Drum Circle Distilling, Troy Roberts, begins with his award-winning Silver Rum. (Siesta Key Silver Rum took the Best in Class Gold Medal at the RumXP International Tasting Competition, earlier batches won a Silver Medal at the highly competitive New York International Spirits Competition and a Silver Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition). Then he adds a bit of his Siesta Gold Rum (reviewed here) to the mix. Finally, he spices the resulting blend using real spices. Troy literally weighs each of the spices and tosses them into a tank of rum to infuse. He uses no corn syrup or other industrial sweetener, instead Mr. Roberts uses honey to add sweetness (and flavor). The spices are primarily fall cooking spices with some exotic twists thrown in. Troy has told me that he is a strong believer that high quality real ingredients lead to a better rum.

I was sent a sample of the Siesta Key Spiced Rum for the purpose of a review upon my website.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“… Here is a spiced rum that refuses to knock me over with vanilla. The sweetness which normally accompanies spiced rum is diminished as well. Instead it is those pumpkin spices which lead out onto my palate. The flavour is just aggressive enough to let you know that you are drinking a spiced rum, but not so aggressive that anything is uncomfortable. I am very pleased with my initial impression…”

Here is a link to the full review:

Review: Siesta Key Spiced Rum

Of course I made a few recipe suggestions at the end of the review and I hope you get a chance to try my Spiced Rum Punch, and the Orange Push-Up.

Cheers Everyone!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Rum, Rum Reviews, Spiced Rum | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Siesta Key Spiced Rum

Review: Cruz Del Sol Silver Tequila

Posted by Arctic Wolf on September 9, 2012

According to the website information, Cruz Tequila contains no chemicals, additives or flavorings. It is produced entirely from Blue Weber agave plants grown in the highlands of the Los Altos region of Jalisco, Mexico. After harvesting the agave, it is slow cooked in traditional brick ovens for two days, then cooled before the juice is extracted and then naturally fermented. The fermented juice is double distilled in small batches using a proprietary process. All Cruz Tequila is packaged and bottled using recycled materials. This includes the blown glass bottles and the aluminum caps as well as the aluminum cross on the front label.

I good folks at Cruz Tequila arranged for me to receive a bottle of Cruz Del Sol Silver Tequila at the beginning of the summer so that I could taste it and write about it if I chose to do so.

Here is an excerpt from the resulting review:

“… The initial aroma the aroma from the Tequila is somewhat earthy, and has a sweet underlying agave scent that to me is somewhat reminiscent of freshly broiled garden squash. Soft peppery notes come forward out of the glass, followed by clean scents reminiscent of lightly sweet orange and lime citrus juices…”

You may read my full review here:

Review: Cruz Del Sol Silver Tequila

Included with the review is a nice recipe I created for this silver tequila called, Free Fall in Crimson.

Please enjoy the review and the great recipe I provided.

Posted in Blanco Tequila, Cocktails & Recipes, Tequila, Tequila Review | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Cruz Del Sol Silver Tequila

Review: Alberta Premium Dark Horse Canadian Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on September 7, 2012

Big things are afoot at Alberta Distillers, as today Beam will be launching Alberta Premium® Dark Horse Canadian Whisky in my home Province of Alberta. This whisky promises to build upon the success of the Alberta Premium® brand which has won accolades for being one of the best rye whiskies in the entire world. In fact, Jim Murray, one of the world’s most renowned whisky critics, not only thinks the Alberta Premium Canadian Whisky is good, he thinks it is great! For years he has extolled the virtues of the Alberta Premium in his Whisky Bible naming it the best Canadian Whisky in 2006, 2007, and 2009. (The year that is missing, 2008 was the year that the Alberta Premium 25 Year Old won the award.)

According to my contacts at Beam, Alberta Distillers Limited is raising the bar with the new Dark Horse Whisky because they believe that Canadian whisky connoisseurs are ready for a bolder, richer tasting premium whisky. The Alberta Premium Dark Horse Whisky is designed to meet this challenge with a distinct new flavor profile which is to represent a bold new experience for the Canadian rye whisky drinker.

This new deluxe Canadian whisky builds upon its rye base with an added touch of sherry and bourbon flavour. The whisky is aged in heavily charred American white oak barrels, and represents a blend of 12-year-old rye, and 6-year-old small pot rye. It is bottled at a higher than normal 45 % alcohol by volume, and is being launched as a premium Canadian sipping whisky designed to deliver, (quoting from the information sheets here):

“high barrel aging extractives and a richer colour and flavour profile.”

This whisky launches today in Alberta, and will soon be available across Canada.

I received a pre-release bottle of the Alberta Premium® Dark Horse from Beam Global (who are the brand owners), and I have decided to provide a timely review here on my website.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“… The nose is complex and engaging, presenting the sharp spicy smells of rye alongside aromatic breezes full of black cherries and fieldberries (strawberry, saskatoons, and black currants). The air above the glass is sharp with oak and rye spices leading out (represented by ginger, cinnamon, and hints of cardamom). Caramelized brown sugars, a freshly bitten Turkish Delight candy bar, and bits of black licorice all find their way into those breezes which also has a distinctive bourbon taint…”

Here is a link to the full review:

Review: Alberta Premium Dark Horse Canadian Whisky

Although this is intended as a sipping whisky, I could not resist constructing a very nice cocktail which is appropriately called, the Dark Horse Cocktail.

Please enjoy my review and my cocktail libation, Cheers!

(Note: As more information has come to light, I have learned that the “added touch” of bourbon flavour is a whopping 8 to 8.5 % by volume addition of corn whiskey to the blend, and the “added touch” of sherry flavour is about 0.5 % by volume addition of sherry. These percentages stretch the definition of “added touch” and this knowledge which came to me after the review was written serves to illuminate some of my comments in the review especially with respect to balance.)

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Cocktails & Recipes, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Review: Pendleton 1910 (Aged 12 Years) Canadian Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on September 6, 2012

Pendleton 1910 Canadian Whisky is a 100 % Canadian Whisky. The spirit is produced and aged in Calgary Alberta, and then transported to Oregon where it is brought to bottling proof by Hood River Distillers using the glacial fed waters from Mt. Hood. The whisky is named to honour the year of the very first Pendleton Round-up, which is a respected rodeo in Pendleton, Oregon. In fact, Pendleton Whisky sponsors numerous rodeos, including the aforementioned  the Pendleton Round-Up, the Cheyenne Frontier Days, and the Walla Walla Frontier Days.

According to the company website, the whisky is crafted from 100 % rye, distilled and oak-aged in Canada for 12 years.

I was given a bottle of the Pendleton 1910, by my contacts at Authentic Wines and Spirits who are the local importers of this whisky in my Province of Alberta.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“… The whisky displays a pale gold colour in the glass and the initial nose is of gentle rye spices. Some sandalwood and oak lie under the rye and the overall effect of this combination is most pleasing. I notice some light honey scents and a pleasant drifting of vanilla.

The oak deepens over time and a few scents of charcoal are added to the fray. Some mild baking spices evolve (ginger, nutmeg and ever so light scents of cinnamon), and as the glass sits even longer, the whisky reveals more… “

Here is a link to the full review:

Review: Pendleton 1910 (Aged 12 Years) Canadian Whisky

I have included one of my original recipes with the review, The Woodcutter.

Please enjoy my review and my original cocktail!

Cheers!

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Cocktails & Recipes, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Pendleton 1910 (Aged 12 Years) Canadian Whisky

Review: Siesta Key Dark Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on September 4, 2012

Drum Circle Distilling is a small artisan distillery located in Sarasota, Florida. Their distillation system was crafted for the distillery by Christian Carl, a German company which has been producing distillation systems for over 150 years. Working directly with Christian Carl, Drum Circle Distilling was able to custom design a small-batch copper still (which can be run as a simple pot still or with a side column) which they believe is perfect for making great tasting rum. This distillation system operates in a 6400 square foot work space which also includes barrel racks for aging, as well as labeling and bottling stations. At this Florida distillery the spirits are hand-crafted from beginning to end in a batch style production cycle from Florida grown sugar cane.

I was sent a sample of the Siesta Key Gold Rum for the purpose of a review upon my website. After a somewhat tortuous journey my sample arrived a few weeks ago.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“… The immediate nose brings forward sweet butterscotch, orange peel, almond and vanilla. I allowed the glass to breathe a few minutes, and noticed that a few oak spices had entered the breezes with a few scattered baking spices… “

Here is a link to the full review;

Review: Siesta Key Dark Rum

I have include a couple of recipes which work well with the rum, the Celebration Cocktail and my own Sloe Lime Daiquiri.

Please enjoy my review, and the cocktails that follow!

Cheers!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Siesta Key Dark Rum

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