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Review: Bacardi Anejo Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on July 15, 2016

Bacardi Anejo SAM_2626The Bacardi Anejo Rum is produced using column still distillation and oak barrel aging. The rum carries no age statement, however based upon its placement in the Bacardi line-up between the Bacardi Gold and the Bacardi Gran Reserva 8 Anos, we can reasonably guess that the rums within the Anejo blend are between 2 and 6 years old. According to the website information, the final rum is further ‘shaped’ by filtering the aged rum through a secret blend of charcoal. This charcoal filtration helps to blunt some of the harsh flavour characteristics of a young rum giving it a smoother taste profile and less astringency.

The anejo rum is bottled at 40 % alcohol by volume.

Here is a link to my new review:

Review: Bacardi Anejo Rum

“… Sharp orange and banana peel follow with light notes of baking spice and vanilla. Although the rum has been filtered to remove some of its youthful astringency, there is nevertheless more than a few telltale notes of alcohol sharpness. In fact, based upon my assumed age of the rum, the rum is sharper and rougher than I expected …”

Please enjoy my latest rum review.

Chimo!

 

Posted in Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , | Comments Off on Review: Bacardi Anejo Rum

Cocktail Hour: The Railcar

Posted by Arctic Wolf on July 14, 2016

I was given a bottle of Bacardi Anejo Rum to review, and after I had finished my sampling sessions I began to search for a suitable cocktail to recommend for the spirit. I began by doing a web search for ‘Bacardi Anejo Cocktails‘, and I came upon a recipe called the Third Rail on the Drinks Mixer website (here).

Three Degrees SAM_2685The libation is quite simple as it mixes Bacardi Anejo Rum with Orange Curacao and Lime Juice. I tried one, and my thoughts turned to a brandy cocktail I have been working with recently, the Sidecar. I realized the two recipes were very similar. Each is basically a sour cocktail which uses orange Curacao as its sweetener. The Sidecar uses lemon juice as the sour ingredient whereas the Third Rail uses Lime Juice.

So I starting with the Third Rail; however, I added a very light dollop of sugar syrup to give the serving a touch more sweetness. Then, to give my mixed drink an added touch of flavour and complexity, I also added a dash of Campari. When I mixed the serving, I knew I had found a winning combination of flavours.

Paying homage to the mixed drinks which inspired me, I called this new cocktail, the Railcar.

I hope you enjoy it.

The Railcar

2 oz Anejo Rum
3/4 oz Bols Triple Sec
1/2 oz Lime Juice
1/8 oz Sugar Syrup
1/8 oz Campari
Ice
Orange Peel (optional)

Add the first five ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice
Shake until the outsides of the shaker begins to frost
Strain into a chilled cocktail glass
Garnish with a coil of Orange Peel (optional)

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 of Bacardi Anejo Rum will publish tomorrow, Chimo!

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

2016 Spiced Rum Taste-off: El Dorado Spiced Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on July 13, 2016

el-dorado-spicedThe Diamond Distillery sits on the East Bank of the Demerara River near Georgetown, Guyana (South America). The Distillery, originally attached to the now closed Diamond Sugar Estate, is home to Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL). A few years ago, I was invited by DDL and Woodman Wines and Spirits to travel to Guyana for a very exclusive tour of DDL’s facilities with a small group of Canadian Spirits Writers and Restauranteurs. Some of the ‘Heritage Stills’ I saw in operation at the distillery were over 250 years old, and they were still producing (as closely as possible) the same historic marques of rum which they had produced over two centuries ago. Superimposed upon the scene of ancient Stills and equipment was the dichotomy of a brand new distillation plant which had just begun to produce its own marques of rum side by side with the ancient historic stills.

El Dorado Spiced Rum is produced at the Diamond Distillery, and according to the El Dorado Website the rum is a 100 % Demerara blend which is  produced using natural spices (cinnamon and vanilla) and hints of citrus flavour. According to recent correspondence I have had with the folks at Demerara Distillers, all rums which are branded as El Dorado Rum are blended from stocks of rum which are produced upon DDL’s traditional Heritage Stills. (For more information on the unique Heritage Stills in operation at the Diamond distillery you may read my first hand account here (Diamond Distillery Tour).

Here is a link to my most recent review of the El Dorado Spiced Rum:

#9 El Dorado Spiced Rum

“… The aroma is richer and spicier than I remember from my review of a few years back, although the general profile of vanilla, brown sugar, cloves, and cinnamon is the same as before. Light notes of apricot and peaches reach the breezes above the glass as well alongside some quiet notes of orange peel and citrus …”

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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 2016 Spiced Rum Taste-off: El Dorado Spiced Rum

Review: J.P Wiser’s Double Still Rye

Posted by Arctic Wolf on July 11, 2016

J.P. Wiser's Double Still Rye SAM_2618J.P. Wiser’s Double Still Rye was recently released across Canada. The Brand appears be replacing Wiser’s Special Blend which is the economy mixer of the Wiser’s family (Wiser’s Special Blend is still available across Alberta).

According to the J.P. Wiser’s website:

The newest edition to Canada’s best-selling whisky family, J.P. Wiser’s Double Still Rye is a complex blend of corn and rye whiskies with a full and robust flavour profile. Perfectly aged, it creates a bold, yet smooth whisky that is perfect on its own or as part of your favourite whisky cocktail.

Here is a link to my review:

Review: J.P Wiser’s Double Still Rye

“… The scents above the glass bring me a nice menagerie of different whisky smells. Butterscotch is melded into oak spice with a light but firm impression of pot distilled rye lurking in the breezes as well. Bits of cocoa reveal themselves as do some baking spices in the form of vanilla, nutmeg and cinnamon …”

Please enjoy my review of this new Canadian Whisky, Chimo!

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on Review: J.P Wiser’s Double Still Rye

Cocktail Hour: The Barrel Racer

Posted by Arctic Wolf on July 10, 2016

I am constantly looking for new cocktails recipes that are easy for the home bartender to construct. And my favourites are those that are simple enough that the home bartender can make them without the need to buy any fancy ingredients. I do expect that the home mixologist would have some basic ingredients such as a bottle of bitters, and some form of orange liqueur in the liquor cabinet; but any other ingredients beyond those (required in the cocktail I am considering) should be items which are easily available and useful for more than just one cocktail. When I find a new recipe that matches my criteria, I tend to play with it to see if I can massage that recipe for other spirits or tweak it into something I like better.

Barrel Rider SAM_2620One such new recipe I have been playing with lately is a libation put together by Lally Brennan and Ti Adelaide Martin ( In the Land of Cocktails) and Ted Haigh (aka Dr. Cocktail). The  mixed drink they created Whoa Nellie, combines Jamaican rum and American rye whisky with lemon and grapefruit juice with bitters added for extra depth.

In my tweaked recipe, I swapped out the Jamaican rum and the American Whiskey replacing them with J.P. Wiser’s Double Still Rye Canadian Whisky. In keeping with the playful equestrian theme of the cocktail which inspired me, I have chosen to call this tweaked version the Barrel Racer.

Barrel Racer

2 oz Canadian Rye Whiskey (J.P. Wiser’s Double Still Rye)
1/2 oz Orange Liqueur (Bols Triple Sec)
1/3 oz Grapefruit Juice
1/3 oz Lemon Juice
2 dashes of Bitters (Fees Cocktail Bitters)
1/6 oz Sugar Syrup
Ice
Orange Peel Twist

Add the ingredients into a metal shaker with plenty of ice
Shake until the outside of the shaker begins to frost
Strain into a cocktail glass
Garnish with a twist of Grapefruit

Please Enjoy Responsibly!

And if  you are interested in more recipes, please click this link (Cocktails and Recipes) for my mixed drink recipes!

Please Note: My review for the J.P. Wiser’s Double Still Rye will publish tomorrow!

Chimo!

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

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