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Archive for October, 2016

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Review: Hine Antique Cognac XO

Posted by Arctic Wolf on October 13, 2016

hine-antique-xoThe production of cognac is governed by strict rules designed to guarantee consistency of quality and character in the final spirit. All cognac must be produced from a specific region of France whose appellation was first set out by decree on May 1, 1909. Since 1938, this appellation has been composed of six crus: Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Borderies, Fins Bois, Bon Bois, and Bois a Terroir. (You can think of each of these crus as specific grape growing regions within the overall appellation.) The grape juice from which cognac is distilled must be produced solely from white grapes which have been grown within the Cognac appellation.

Hine Antique XO Cognac is produced from a blend 40 Cognac spirits in the heart of France’s Cognac appellation on the banks of the River Charente. Every drop of this XO blend is distilled from grapes grown in the Grande Champagne cru. The Grand Champagne regions is the most recognizable Cognac region of France known for consistently producing high quality grape harvests. In addition, all of the eau de vie for this cognac blend have been aged a minimum of 10 years, 4 years longer than required by French law.

Here is a link to my review:

Review: Hine Antique Cognac XO

“… The initial nose is perhaps a tad restrained as scents of  oak spice and vanilla mingle within a fruited caramel aroma. As the glass breathes, I begin to notice a growing herbaceous quality with camphor, menthol and cinnamon weaving themselves into the lightly sweet caramel. Fresh fruit, (apples, pears and apricots) as well as a bits of raisin unravel into the breezes above the glass as well …”

Please enjoy my review, Chimo!

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Note: Hine Antique XO Premier Cru has just released in Ontario as a Specialty Listing on the LCBO for the Christmas Season.

 

 

 

Posted in Brandy and Cognac Reviews, Cognac Review | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Hine Antique Cognac XO

Cocktail Hour: The Hummingbird

Posted by Arctic Wolf on October 12, 2016

It is quite common when mixing tiki drinks to mix two disparate rums with different flavour profiles in order to bring the best of both to the final cocktail. I like to do the same when making cocktails with brandy and cognac. Specifically, I like to mix a young vibrant spirit with a well aged brandy or XO Cognac in sour cocktails. A ribbon of strong overt oak spice (from the well aged spirit) seems to take these cocktails to a whole new level.

hummingbird-sam_2779That is the theme for the following cocktail. (My wife insisted that I call the serving, The Hummingbird, as it is named for the avian visitor which has been dropping by the hanging flowers by our back window this fall.)

Hummingbird

1 oz H by Hine Fine Champagne VSOP (click here for review)
1/2 oz Hine Antique XO Premier Cru
3/4 oz Orange Juice
3/8 oz Lemon Juice
3/8 oz Lime Juice
1/2 oz Sugar Syrup
dash Angostura Bitters
Ice
Twist of Orange Peel

Add the first seven ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice
Shake until the outside of the shaker begins to frost
Strain into a chilled cocktail glass
Garnish with a Twist of Orange Peel

Please Enjoy Responsibly!

If  you are interested in more of my original cocktail recipes, please click this link (Cocktails and Recipes) for more of my mixed drink recipes!

Note: My Review for Hine Antique XO Premier Cru Cognac will publish tomorrow, Chimo!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes | Tagged: , , , , , , | Comments Off on Cocktail Hour: The Hummingbird

Review: Captain Morgan Jack-O’ Blast Limited Edition Spiced Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on October 10, 2016

jack-oblast-sam_2843Captain Morgan Jack-O’ Blast has began to appear on store shelves throughout North America. The new spirit from Captain Morgan (apparently produced from Caribbean Rum, fresh pumpkin, cinnamon and autumnal spices) promises to deliver an insanely delicious shot. This is because the new limited edition spiced rum is (based upon the media information provided) designed to be ideal for the shot glass.

Coinciding with the release of this new pumpkin spiced rum, the Captain Morgan media team began to send samples and product information to media outlets (like The Rum Howler Blog) to write about their new spirit. Of course, I had to put it through the paces of my review system to see if it was all that Captain Morgan promised.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Captain Morgan Jack-O’ Blast

“… The aroma from the glass is very nice. I let my wife have a nice sniff, not letting her know what was inside. She immediately smiled and said my rum reminded her of her pumpkin spiced chai tea that she loves. I guess you could say that Captain Morgan nailed it! Pumpkin, caramel, and vanilla rise into the breezes accented lightly by cinnamon and cloves. The combination is wonderful and promises to be delicious prompting me to quickly steal a sip …”

Please enjoy my review of this new spiced rum from Captain Morgan.

Chimo!  

Posted in Rum, Rum Reviews, Spiced Rum | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Captain Morgan Jack-O’ Blast Limited Edition Spiced Rum

Cocktail Hour: The Cane Mutiny

Posted by Arctic Wolf on October 9, 2016

The Captain Morgan Media Team sent me a recipe for their Jack-O’Blast Rum which mixed the pumpkin spiced spirit with Ginger Beer and Lime. It was basically a Moscow Mule made with their spiced rum instead of with Vodka, and paying homage to the cocktail which inspired the serving, they called their suggested libation a Mutiny Mule.

Mutiny Mule

1.5 oz. Captain Morgan Jack-O’Blast
3 oz. Ginger Beer
0.5 oz. Lime Juice

Combine all ingredients in a glass filled with ice, stir and garnish with a lime wedge.

the-cane-mutiny-sam_2842

The Cane Mutiny

I quite enjoyed the serving, but decided to make a few small changes which I felt more firmly highlighted the Pumpkin Spiced flavour of their new rum. The first change was to alter the proportions such that the Jack-O’Blast Rum was the dominant ingredient within the cocktail. Then I replaced the Ginger Beer with Ginger Ale which is not nearly so spicy and therefore allowed the Pumpkin Spiced Rum to be the star of the serving.

I decided to call my recipe, The Cane Mutiny.

The Cane Mutiny

2 oz Captain Morgan Jack-O’Blast Spiced Rum
3/8 oz fresh Lime Juice
dash Sugar Syrup (to taste)
1 1/2 oz Ginger-ale
Ice
Lime Slice for garnish

Add all of the ingredients into a Mixing glass
Stir Gently
Pour into a rocks glass filled with ice
Enjoy Responsibly!

Note: If  you are interested in more of my cocktail recipes, please click this link (Cocktails and Recipes) for more mixed drink recipes!

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Note: My Review of the Captain Morgan Jack-O’Blast Spiced Rum will publish tomorrow, Chimo!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on Cocktail Hour: The Cane Mutiny

Review: Dictador Cafe 100 Month Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on October 6, 2016

Dictador Cafe SAM_2681Recently Dictador released what they call their 100 Month Series which includes four new rums all aged for 100 months. Unlike the more premium Dictador Solero Aged Rums, the 100 month series is meant to be a gateway series consisting of spirits which are meant to be embraced both as entry-level sipping rums as well as cocktail spirits.

The Dictador Cafe 100 Month Aged Rum was created to be a discerning spirit for the rum and coffee enthusiast. The base rum within the flavoured spirit is a continuous column still rum which was aged (for 100 months) in ex-bourbon oak barrels. At maturity the rum was filtered through Colombia’s most well know agricultural product, 100 % pure Arabica Coffee beans.

The final flavoured rum was then bottled at 40 % alcohol by volume.

Here is a link to my review:

Review: Dictador Cafe 100 Month Rum

“… The cafe aroma from the glass is inviting, however it masks the rum-like scents of butterscotch toffee, vanilla and baking spices (cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves). The absence of a cloying sweetness within the breezes is refreshing; however it does hint that a firm coffee-like bitterness may be present when we sip the flavoured rum …”

Please enjoy my review, and stay tuned for further reviews of some very unique flavoured rums and spirits in the coming weeks.

Chimo!

 

 

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

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