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Cocktail Hour: The Trolley Car

Posted by Arctic Wolf on July 21, 2016

Trolley CarSAM_2676Here is a new mixed drink for spiced rum which I created after being inspired by Tony Abou-Ganim’s popular modern cocktail, the Cable Car.

When Tony created the Cable Car, he started with the classic Sidecar which mixes Brandy with Lemon Juice and turned it on its head using Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum instead of Brandy in his recipe.

In my serving, I up the ante replacing the Captain Morgan Original Spiced rum with the Captain Morgan 100 Proof Spiced Rum. Then I step off in a new flavour direction replacing the Lemon Juice with Orange and Lime Juice as well as adding a dash of Fees Cocktail Bitters.

Because the inspiration for my cocktail was the Cable Car, I chose to call my mixed drink, the Trolley Car.

Trolley Car

1 1/2 oz Captain Morgan 100 Proof Spiced Rum
1/2 oz Bols Triple Sec
1 oz fresh squeezed Orange Juice
1/2 oz fresh squeezed Lime Juice
dash Fees Cocktail Bitters
3/8 oz Sugar Syrup (1:1 ratio)
Ice
Orange Peel

Add the first five ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice
Shake until the sides frost
Strain into a chilled cocktail glass
Garnish with a thin strip 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 trip through my Spiced Rum Shelf continues tomorrow with a review of Captain Morgan’s 100 Proof Spiced Rum.

Chimo!

Posted in Howls | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Cocktail Hour: The Trolley Car

Review: Ethan Koll Rare 8 Year Old Canadian Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on July 19, 2016

Ethan Koll SAM_2622Ethan Koll Rare 8 Year Old Canadian Whisky is a whisky brand developed by Distiller Sales Company of Princeton, Minnesota and is part of a portfolio of brands owned by Phillips Products Company (PPC). The Brand was registered in 2010, and is distributed in the Northwestern States of the US and Western Canada.

Some of the other PPC brands which are available in my home market include: Broken Bell Bourbon, Cross Keys 5 Yr Old Barbados Rum, Monkey Paw Rum, Luxus Vodka, Capatina French Vodka and Veil Premium Vodka.

Although the whisky is apparently bottled (at 40 % abv.) in the USA, the whisky inside the bottle was both distilled and aged in Canada.

Here is a link to my new review:

Review: Ethan Koll Rare 8 Year Old Canadian Whisky

” … By the time I began to taste the whisky (after about 10 minutes of nosing) the whisky flavour had progressed along that same avenue of built-up richness which the nose had slowly revealed. The mouthfeel was soft and approachable, and I tasted a combination of maple and butterscotch sweetness melded into the oak spice, cedar and rye grain. This gave the spirit a mild rum-like quality which I quite enjoyed …”

Please enjoy my latest Canadian Whisky Review.

Chimo!

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Ethan Koll Rare 8 Year Old Canadian Whisky

Battle of the Rum Cakes: Pusser’s Vs. Tortuga

Posted by Arctic Wolf on July 18, 2016

rc-side3Several years ago I was contacted by Adam Dell (on behalf of Pusser’s Rum) and asked if I would review their Pusser’s Premium Rum Cake on my website. I accepted, and my friends and I got together and enjoyed sampling and discussing the cake. I took their comments and cobbled together a review of sorts.

Recently, I was contacted by Adam again and was asked if I would sample some of their rum cake again, but this time he wanted me to also sample a competitor’s rum cake, Tortuga Golden Original Rum Cake, and write a comparative review. This seemed like a fun exercise, and since Pusser’s have apparently been improving their recipe over the past several years, the new review would probably be timely as well.

Tortuga-OriginalThe two rum cakes (sent to my by Adam Dell) arrived separately with the Pusser’s Premium cake arriving first and the Tortuga Golden Original cake arriving about two weeks later. This meant I had to refrigerate the Pusser’s Cake in the interim so that I would be able to taste the two side by side. When I asked Adam if this would affect the quality of the Pusser’s product he assured me that as long as the cake was left sealed and refrigerated it would keep for up to 10 months.

Once I had received both products, I placed them each in my refrigerator, and then arranged to have a few of my rum friends over to help me taste them.

You may click on the following link to read the results of my first ever Rum Cake Battle:

Battle of the Rum Cakes: Pusser’s Premium Rum Cake vs. Tortuga Golden Original

“… Whereas the Pusser’s Rum Cake had a very rum forward scent oozing from it on the pate, the aroma of the Tortuga rum cake was less rum forward. The sweetness was also more muted. I am not sure if this is more positive or more negative, but if I were to make a differentiation based upon visual appearance and aroma, I would say that the Pusser’s Premium Rum Cake is more rum-like, and the Tortuga Golden Original Rum Cake is more cake-like …”

Please enjoy the review, Chimo!

 

Posted in Extras, Rum Cake | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on Battle of the Rum Cakes: Pusser’s Vs. Tortuga

Review: Cruzan 9 Spiced Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on July 17, 2016

Cruzan Spiced PuchThe Cruzan Rum Company is located on the Island of St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands. The Island of St. Croix is the largest of the US Virgin islands, being approximately 28 miles long and 7 miles wide. Along with the tourism industry and one of the largest oil refineries in the Caribbean, the St. Croix economy is dependent to a large extent upon the Rum Industry as a major engine of their economic growth.

All of the Cruzan Rums are produced using a modern five column distillation method which produces a light bodied rum, the quality of which can be tightly controlled by the five column distillation. The rum is then aged in once used American oak bourbon barrels.

The Cruzan 9 Spiced Rum is named for the 9 spices blended within the rum, allspice, vanilla, pepper, ginger, mace, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, and juniper berry. It is bottled at 40 per cent alcohol by volume and is, I believe, aged for up to two years in American Oak.

Here is a link to my review:

#8 Cruzan 9 Spiced Rum

“… I was struck by the scents of pungent spices mingling with the sweeter scents of caramel toffee. Vanilla, nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon and cloves are easily identified in the breezes. I am noticing the ginger playing in the breezes as well mingling with just a hint of oak spice …”

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I hope you all find this countdown enjoyable and you can follow the rankings here:

The Rum Howler 2016 Spiced Rum Countdown

Posted in Rum, Rum Reviews, Spiced Rum | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Cruzan 9 Spiced Rum

Advance Notice: The 2nd Annual Edmonton Rum Festival

Posted by Arctic Wolf on July 16, 2016

159736The folks at Vines Riverbend Wine Merchants (who have produced the very successful Edmonton Whisky Festival for the past 6 years) are teaming up with Lexus Edmonton and Capital FM 96.3 to bring you their 2nd Annual Edmonton Rum Festival!

All proceeds raised at this event are donated to the MS Society of Canada – Alberta Division.

This is a unique chance to taste selected rums produced from around the world and to meet and discuss the noble spirit with industry and distillery representatives, and more importantly, monies raised at the event will help those affected by MS in our community, as well as help to fund research towards a cure.

2015_Presenting-Sponsors-680x130

Where: Edmonton Delta South Hotel – Grand Ballroom
4404 Gateway Boulevard

When: Friday, September 30, 2016
7:00 PM to 10:00 PM

Ticket Price: $90.00 each: Available online beginning August 1rst here
(Tickets are also available in-store at Riverbend Wine Merchants (780 434 9444 ))

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What do You get for the price of a regular admission ticket?

You’ll receive a commemorative Glencairn glass, an event program, a gourmet buffet throughout the evening and, of course, over 75 rums to sample, a chance to win a bottle of rum a month for a year and an opportunity to bid on a number of rum themed silent auction items. The price of a ticket includes entrance and rum sampling (you do not have to buy additional sample tickets).

Should you wear perfume/after-shave?

One of the great joys of any spirit tasting event is nosing the glass to identify subtle nuances and delicate aromas. Unfortunately this experience can be compromised by perfume, cologne and after-shave worn on your own person or even by somebody else some distance away. So please refrain from wearing any perfumed scents for the duration of the Festival and advise your guests accordingly.

Are tickets available at the door?

Although tickets will be available at the door, it is strongly advised that you order your tickets in advance to ensure your attendance! Last Year’s event sold out!

Is there parking at the hotel?

The hotel has limited available free parking. However, it is encouraged that you use public transportation and cabs.

Can you get a preferred rate at the Delta as part of the Festival?

Yes! Stay at the Delta Edmonton South for the night at a rate of $165. Call the Delta Edmonton South at 780-434-6415 and ask to book in the Rum Festival open block.

There’s a rum on the list that I want to sample. How can I find it?

The booklet you receive on entering is set out alphabetically by the local agent/importer responsible for each rum company. The tables in the ballroom follow that list in a clockwise direction. Each table is marked with the name of the agent/importer to help you find them easily.

Do you need to purchase drink tickets to be able to taste the rums?

Certainly not! Sampling is included in the admission price. However, you will require a stamp book for your samples which will be available at the door.

Should I keep my ticket stub?

Absolutely! Bring your stub into Vines Wine Merchants by the end of Nov. 2016 to receive a 10% discount or $10 off, whichever is the better deal on a rum purchase.

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VinesThe folks at Vines do a fantastic job every year with both the Annual Edmonton Whisky Festival and the Annual Edmonton Rum Festival.

I encourage you to attend and enjoy yourself. It is a relaxed atmosphere with Rum Insiders, Brand Ambassadors, and Rum Enthusiasts from across Canada and around the World. You might even run into the Rum Howler, as I have my two tickets reserved already!

Note: All proceeds raised at this event are donated to the MS Society of Canada – Alberta Division.

For more information please contact:

Vines – Riverbend Wine Merchants (Edmonton)

Posted in Festivals, Festivals and Events | Tagged: , | Comments Off on Advance Notice: The 2nd Annual Edmonton Rum Festival

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