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Review: Canadian Club Small Batch Classic (12 Year Old)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on July 2, 2013

Classic Small batchCanadian Club Whisky is the oldest (and arguably also the most influential) Canadian Whisky brand in the world. It is sold in over 150 countries world-wide, and sales in Canada are unmatched by any other whisky brand. The company has been granted numerous Royal Warrants from Queen Victoria to Queen Elizabeth II, and it has been reported that Canadian Club was the whisky of choice when Al Capone smuggled thousands of cases of Canadian Whisky into the USA during prohibition.

Recently there have been some changes in the Canadian Club family. One of the brands which has undergone a revamping is the Canadian Club Classic (12 Years Old) which has been replaced by the Canadian Club Classic Small Batch (also 12 Years Old). The newer version of the whisky has a new bottle (shown right) and the two words, “Small Batch” have been added to the label. My understanding is the whisky is now constructed from a smaller selection of aged whisky (oak barrels) in an effort to bring a fuller flavour and more smoothness to the blend.

Old FashionedThe Alberta Beam Global team recently gave me a sample bottle to examine, and if you click the following excerpt you may read my latest review:

Review: Canadian Club Small Batch Classic (12 Year Old)

“… The initial breezes above the glass bring forward scents of caramel and oak which are melded nicely with dabs of light tobacco and spicy orange peel. As the glass breathes, I notice some rye spices and some sweet corn pushing though. The oak and tobacco scents have deepened bringing me impressions of fresh-cut cedar and honeycomb. The caramel and wood spice come together as toffee, and the orange peel has softened into marmalade …”

Please enjoy my latest review and if you happen to already have a bottle of the new Small Batch Classic, do not hesitate to make yourself a nice Old Fashioned Cocktail . You swill not be disappointed!

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Cocktails & Recipes, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Canadian Club Small Batch Classic (12 Year Old)

Review: Screech Spiced 100 (Proof) Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 30, 2013

SAM_0824 Spiced Rum and GingerFamous Newfoundland Screech has recently added two new members to it family, a honey flavouerd rum (which was the subject of a previous review), and the subject of this review, Screech Spiced 100 (Proof) Rum. The new spiced rum is made from the same 4 marques of Jamaican Rum which are used to produce Screech. However, because this is a spiced rum (bottled at 50 % alcohol by volume), the treatment of these marques will necessarily be slightly different. The new family members are just now hitting the store shelves in Newfoundland and Labrador, and will soon be making their way across Canada and into parts of the USA.

You may click on the following excerpt to read my full review:

Review: Screech Spiced 100 (Proof) Rum

“… The initial scents in the breezes are sweet and spicy with an unmistakable accent of baking spices (vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves). As the glass sits the baking spices seem to take over the glass giving the rum a rich scent similar to my mom’s cinnamon buns taken fresh from the oven. There are aromas of roasted pecans and walnuts and a little touch of baked caramel, and a nice meandering scent of marmalade making my mouth water …”

I found the Screech Spiced Rum to be a very versatile mixer and included a Spiced Rum and Ginger-ale recipe in the review for your enjoyment.

Cheers!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Rum, Rum Reviews, Spiced Rum | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Screech Spiced 100 (Proof) Rum

PINOT on the PATIO

Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 28, 2013

Today’s posting is a plug for PINOT on the PATIO, a fundraiser for Kids with Cancer. The great guys and girls at Vines Riverbend Wine Merchants sent me the poster and asked me to help get out the word. It’s a great charity, so please call and reserve a ticket or two!Helping Kids

Posted in Fund Raisers | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on PINOT on the PATIO

Review: Cálem LBV Port Wine (2006)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 27, 2013

SAM_0744 Calem LBV 2006Porto Cálem was founded in 1859 by Antonio Alves Cálem and remained a family business for 4 generations. Since 1998  however, (although the Cálem family remain with the company as minority shareholders) Cálem has been part of the Portuguese Wine company, Sogevinus SGPS, S.A.. 

Porto Cálem Late Bottled Vintages are produced from red grapes grown in the Douro Valley of Portugal. The wine is aged between 4 to 6 years in oak casks and in wine vats. Because Cálem filters their LBV’s before bottling, their style of Late Bottled Vintage Port wine does not benefit from further aging in the bottle. It is ready to be served and does not require decanting.

(Note: I received my sample bottle from Woodman Wines and Spirits who advised me that 196 cases Calem LBV Port were to be released through Vintages (in the Province of Ontario) on June 22nd.)

You may read my full review by clicking on the following excerpt:

Review: Cálem LBV Port Wine (2006)

“… The aroma is soft and full of sweet purple fruit as the breezes above the glass bring forward smells of plump fresh dark-red cherries, black raspberry jam, and sticky plum sauce. I seem to smell a vague earthiness under the ripe fruit as impressions of rich damp humus fill soil seem to be hinted at. There is also a light spiciness which for me is reminiscent of wood chips drying in the sun …”

Please enjoy the review of this surprisingly good LBV Port Wine!

(Please note that the problem I had earlier with the above link has been fixed!)

Posted in Dessert Wine Review, LBV Port, Wine Reviews - Port | Tagged: , , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Cálem LBV Port Wine (2006)

Review: Reimonenq Vieux 9 Year Old Rhum (1999)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 25, 2013

Reimonenq Vieux 9yo 1999-08Distillerie Reimonenq (also referred to as Musee Du Rhum) was founded in 1916 by the Reimonenq family. The distillery, like most others on Guadeloupe, produces Rhum Agricole from distilled sugar cane juice. The fresh-cut cane is crushed by electric mills and the resulting ‘honey’ undergoes a 24 to 48 hour fermentation in open air vessels. The fermented ‘wine’ is distilled in a stainless steel column in the traditional french manner.

I received two samples of Rhum Reimonenq (a 5 Year old and a 9 Year Old) from Fabio Rossi (of Rum Nation). Mr Rossi personally choose the barrels for the “assemblage” at the distillery, and the bottling is done by the Reimonenq Distillery exclusively for his company. Unfortunately for the rest of the world, this particular bottling is only available in Italy, however my examinations hopefully will provide some insight into the taste profile of the Guadeloupe Rhum produced at the Reimonenq Distillery.

You may read the full review by clicking on the following excerpt:

Review: Reimonenq Vieux 9 Year Old Rhum (1999)

“… The initial aroma from the glass is reminiscent of a well aged speyside whisky as a strong woody character brimming with spicy accents rises into the air. If I close my eyes, I receive impressions of tall oak trees surrounded by willow thicket. A grassy meadow is nearby with clumps of heather growing here and there, and in the distance a group of lilac bushes have just begun to bloom throwing their pollen into the breezes …”

I hope you enjoy my review of this remarkable Rhum!

 

Posted in Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Reimonenq Vieux 9 Year Old Rhum (1999)

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