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Author Archive

Review: Granny’s Gin (Last Mountain Distillery)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 7, 2018

Colin Schmidt was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in 1992. After being drafted, he spent four years playing College Hockey and then signed his first pro contract in 1996. Colin’s pro experience was brief, cut off by a few shoulder injuries after a short spell of what Colin referred to as “playing left bench.” Fortunately, as far as we are concerned, Colin’s story did not end there.

A few years later, Colin, who was working in the mortgage industry, and his wife, Meredith, whose background was in banking, began to look for their own business opportunities in Saskatchewan. Colin had a friend who had started up a micro-distillery in Colorado, and the idea to begin a similar operation in Saskatchewan was very appealing to them. In August of 2010, Colin and Meredith’s hard work and perseverance paid off when they opened Saskatchewan’s first micro-distillery, in Lumsden, Saskatchewan, called the Last Mountain Distillery.

Granny’s Gin pays homage to Colin’s grandmother, Muriel who came to Canada back in 1946 as a war bride from England and has been known to enjoy a Gin and Soda. Since Colin began to distill spirits at Last Mountain Distillery, his Granny has been asking for a nice dry gin to enjoy, one that is ‘not too florally’ which is how his Granny like to enjoy it.

Here is a link to my first Gin Review of 2018:

Review: Granny’s Gin (Last Mountain Distillery)

“… The initial aroma from the glass is very nice, representing a traditional juniper forward dry gin. Along with the juniper is a mild but firm presence of licorice and citrus zest (in particular orange and grapefruit). Light lemony scents rises up alongside impressions of spicy coriander and cardamom. Perhaps there is a hint of mint in the breezes,as well as a light ribbon of orange Curacao …”

Please enjoy my review which includes a nice cocktail recommendation, the Sentimental Lady.

Chimo!

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Review: Alamo (Reposado) Tequila

Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 5, 2018

Alamo is a tequila brand sold by Minhas Distilleries in Western Canada. I reviewed part of the portfolio a few years ago, but recently I noticed that a change had occurred concerning the distillery of origin for the tequila brand.

According to the Minhas Distillery website, Alamo Reposado is a 100 % Agave Tequila aged for 6 months in white American oak barrels. The Minhas website tells us that the Hernandes Estate near Guadalajara is located high in the mountains which implies the spirit is a highland tequila, however my research indicates that the distillery of origin, Agaveros y Tequileros Unidos de Los Altos typically uses both highland and lowland grown agave when producing their tequila. (In the production of tequila, highland agave tends to bring stronger fruity citrus notes and more spicy pepper into both the delivery and in the finish. Lowland tequila tends to bring firmer earthy flavours of the agave fruit into the flavour profile.)

Here is a link to my review of the Alamo Reposado Tequila:

Review: Alamo (Reposado) Tequila

“… When I brought the glass to my nose I discovered a lightly sweet, mildly punky agave aroma lifting from the glass. It has a fruity smell reminiscent of baked squash with white pepper and citrus zest building. There is a lovely earthy quality which brings me impressions of licorice and angelica as well as very light hints of butterscotch and oolong tea.

I hope you enjoy this review which includes a nice recipe suggestion, Maximiliano Tequila.

Chimo!

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Review: Flor de Caña 12 Centenario

Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 2, 2018

I am continuing my weekly step through the Flor de Caña line-up. Last week I reviewed Flor de Caña 7 Gran Reserva which is part of their Super Premium Collection. This week I move up to Flor de Caña’s Ultra Premium Collection as I revisit Flor de Caña 12 Centenario.

Flor de Caña 12 is a super aged rum with the number 12 on the label representative of the average age of the rums in the blend with some variation in the actual age based upon blending to a consistent flavour profile. According to the folks at Flor de Caña this aged spirit is suitable for sipping neat or with a splash of water or soda. I find it is also excellent for high-end cocktails!

Here is a link to my newly revised review of the Flor de Caña 12 with new tasting notes as well as with the latest information available to me regarding the brand:

Review: Flor de Caña 12 Centenario

“… I taste a nice mixture of treacle and caramel, flavours of oak and wood spice, an underlying presence of pecans and walnuts, and a very nice mixture of baking spices (vanilla, hints of cinnamon and clove, and bits of allspice). That orange peel I noticed in the air above the glass seems to have moved to a flavour impression of orange marmalade, and if you search for them, there are ample flavours of dark chocolate, espresso coffee and even cola which permeate the rum …”

Please enjoy my review!

Chimo!

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Review: Alamo (Blanco) Tequila

Posted by Arctic Wolf on January 29, 2018

Alamo is a tequila brand sold by Minhas Distilleries in Western Canada. I reviewed part of the portfolio a few years ago, but recently I noticed that a change had occurred concerning the distillery of origin for the tequila brand. In my previous review I had noted that the Nom on my sample bottles was 1529, which indicated that the spirit was produced by Agaveros y Tequileros Unidos de Los Altos, a tequila producer which typically distills agave grown in Los Altos, the highlands of Mexico’s tequila producing region. However, the new spirit sold by Minhas now carries a different Nom (1438) indicating the distillery of origin for the current spirit is Destiladora del Valle de Tequila, S.A. de C.V., a producer which typically uses both highland and lowland agave in its production of Tequila. (The NOM identifier is required by the Mexican Government to be placed on the label of each bottle of tequila to verify that it is produced legally from agave sourced in the Tequila region of Mexico. Each distillery has its own NOM, and thus we can trace the distillery of origin.)

The change of Nom upon the tequila bottle is a signal that a new series of reviews is in order, and I though I would take the opportunity to review not only the Reposado and Anejo tequila which I analyzed a few years ago but also the Gold and Blanco tequila which are part of the Alamo line-up.

Here is a link to my review of the Alamo Blanco Tequila:

Review: Alamo (Blanco) Tequila

“… My nose is greeted with a firm fruity agave aroma accented by white pepper and hints of orange peel zest. The breezes above the glass bring me impressions of baked squash, grilled pineapple, mushy banana and light hints of peppery lime. There is a light herbal grass-like quality as well with a dab of menthol ...”

Please enjoy my review which includes a nice recipe suggestion for this blanco, the Paloma.

Chimo!

 

 

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Review: Flor de Caña 7 Gran Reserva

Posted by Arctic Wolf on January 26, 2018

I am continuing my weekly step through the Flor de Caña line-up. Last week I reviewed Flor de Caña 5 (Añejo Clasico) which is part of the Flor de Caña Premium Rum Collection. This week we are stepping it up a notch as I examine Flor de Caña 7 Gran Reserva which is part of their Super Premium Collection.

Flor de Caña 7 is an aged rum with the number 7 on the label representative of the average age of the rums in the blend with some variation in the actual age based upon blending to a consistent flavour profile. According to the folks at Flor de Caña this aged spirit is suitable for sipping as well as for cocktails. (I concur!)

Here is a link to my newest review:

Review: Flor de Caña 7 Gran Reserva

“… The flavour profile of the Flor de Caña 7 Gran Reserva features a ribbon of bittersweet chocolate complimented by vanilla, dark caramel treacle and baking spices (nutmeg and cinnamon) with the nuttiness of walnuts and pecans laying underneath. There is a firm presence of oak, and within the wood spices are traces of oak sap and hints of green tobacco …”

I hope you enjoy my review which contains my recommended recipe, the Rum Old Fashioned.

Chimo!

 

 

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