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Review: Crown Royal XR (LaSalle) Canadian Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on July 26, 2012

Crown Royal unveiled their new Crown Royal XR, LaSalle Whisky in the US market a few short months ago. The previously released Crown Royal XR Whisky, (click here for my review) was a unique bottling of Crown Royal Whisky, which included in the blend, the last aged stocks from the Crown Royal Waterloo Distillery which burned down in 1993. This latest Crown Royal XR Whisky blend focuses its attention instead, on selected remaining whisky stocks from the renowned LaSalle Distillery in Quebec, Canada. The LaSalle Distillery is significant to Crown Royal, as it was the first distillery opened by the Bronfman Family (a legendary name within the spirits industry). The Bronfmans were responsible for the creation of the original Crown Royal Whisky in 1939 to commemorate King George VI and Queen Elizabeth’s visit to Canada.’

I received my whisky sample several weeks ago and here is an excerpt from my review:

“…The whisky is a richly coloured amber, and that trademark punky caramel-corn Crown Royal nose rises from the glass immediately. The air is rich with vanilla and honeycomb, and displays a strong rich oak taint….”

You may read the full review here:

Review: Crown Royal XR (LaSalle) Canadian Whisky

Please enjoy my review!

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Crown Royal XR (LaSalle) Canadian Whisky

Review: Barceló Añejo Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on July 24, 2012

Photo Courtesy of Lance Surujbally (All rights reserved!)

Ron Barceló was founded in 1930 under the name Barceló & Co in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. The rum brand quickly grew in popularity growing into one of the largest in the Dominican, and the brand is now exported world-wide to over 20 countries.

The Company advertises five indicators of quality which govern their production:

  • Only the finest sugar cane produced in the Dominican Republic is used.
  • All of our rums age in oak barrels from Kentucky that have been used to age Bourbon Whisky.
  • Constant research efforts by our Master Blenders lead us to the best possible blends.
  • Achieving a perfect combination of body character, great performance and exquisite bouquet.
  • Using the industry’s leading distilling technology with the age-old artisan knowledge of our local experts, heirs to a long tradition of excellence in rum production.

I reviewed this rum almost three years ago, and recently acquired a new bottle. I decided to go back and see if the rum, or my perception of it had improved after three years.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“… When I allow the glass to breathe some of that initial harshness evaporates into the breezes, and I detect some notes of caramel, banana peel, and tobacco. However, the burnt brown sugar notes still tend to dominate the rum… “

You may read my full review by clicking the link below:

Review: Barceló Añejo Rum

Please enjoy the review!

Posted in Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Barceló Añejo Rum

Review: McGuinness Silk Tassel Canadian Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on July 22, 2012

McGuinness Silk Tassel Canadian Whisky was recently purchased by Sazerac Company, Inc. as part of a strategic investment in the Canadian Whisky marketplace. This brand has been around for a while now, although I believe that it was originally introduced as McGuiness Gold Tassel in the late 1960′s or perhaps the early 70′s. I remember the brand being quite popular in my youth. Young aficionados of the brand would collect the gold tassels that decorated the bottle and hang them like trophies from the rear view mirrors of their pick-up trucks (as you can tell, growing up in rural Alberta was a hoot).

The brand was changed to Silk Tassel many years ago, although there may have been a brief period when both a Silk Tassel and a Gold Tassel Whisky were available. (Just think of the decorating possibilities for those rear view mirrors.)

I was provided with a bottle of the Silk Tassel recently by the local distributor, Charton Hobbes, for the purpose of a review upon this website.

Here is an excerpt from that review:

“… The initial nose from the glass resembles a fruit-filled rye spice with some hints of almond and vanilla. There is a light presence of oak and citrus zest in the background and even a bit of dusty wooden granary and freshly baled straw… “

You may read the full review here:

Review: McGuinness Silk Tassel Canadian Whisky

And for these hot days we have been experiencing lately I have a new cocktail I call the Icy Breeze!

Please enjoy the review and the cocktail!

Cheers!

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Cocktails & Recipes, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: McGuinness Silk Tassel Canadian Whisky

Review: English Harbour 5 Year Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on July 19, 2012

The English Harbour 5 Year Rum is a genuine Caribbean rum produced by Antigua Distillery Limited. The rum is named for the Antiguan naval port of English Harbour which was the site of naval confrontations between the English and the French who were the two major naval powers of the 18th Century.

When I contacted the Antigua Distillery regarding my review they indicated to me that the special character of their rum begins with the fermentation process. They use baker’s yeast during their fermentation and allow it to interact with the wild yeast present in the distillery. The use of open top fermenters aids and encourages the marriage of the different yeasts. After fermentation, the English Harbour rum is distilled upon an all copper continuous still. (The Antigua Distillery operates one of the few remaining all-copper continuous stills in the Caribbean.) The rum is aged in once used Kentucky bourbon barrels, and the Distillery’s wood policy states that they must use no. 1 select barry from the cooperage owned by the famous bourbon company. (I will leave you to speculate as to whom that might be.)

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“… The initial air above the glass presents a complex aroma of molasses, treacle (burnt caramel), toasted coconut and orange peel. The rum has a smoky quality as well which reminds me of dry fruit (raisins, dates, and prunes). A bit of damp cigar tobacco and some muted almond scents round out the nose …”

You may read my full review here:

Review: English Harbour 5 Year Rum

Please enjoy the review and the cocktail that follows.

Cheers!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: English Harbour 5 Year Rum

Review: Patrón Añejo Tequila

Posted by Arctic Wolf on July 17, 2012

Patron Tequila is a pure 100% Blue Weber Agave Tequila made from agave grown in the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico. The agave is 6 to 7 years old when harvested, and the heart of the plant or the piña is all that is used. These piñas are cut and slowly steamed in traditional masonry ovens for 79 hours, and then shredded placed into a traditional stone pit. Here they are broken into finer pieces with large stone milling wheels called “Tahonas”. The resulting juice is then fermented for 72 hours in a wooden fermentation vat, and distilled twice in copper pot stills.

Patrón Añejo Tequila is a blend of aged tequilas which all have been matured in small white oak barrels for a minimum of 12 months. I received a sample bottle of the this Tequila from Diamond Estates Wine and Spirits, who are the local distributor Patron Spirits.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“… When I brought the glass to my nose, light scents of caramel, sawdust, sandalwood and mildly punky agave were rising from the glass. The tequila is noticeably fuller and oakier than the previously reviewed Patrón Reposado which needed more coaxing to release the oaky scent of sandalwood. Scents of honey and vanilla find their way into the breezes, and the fully decanted glass reveals ‘earthy’ smells of broiled zucchini and oven baked squash…”

Here is a link to the full review:

Review: Patrón Añejo Tequila

I have included another very good cocktail with the review which I call, the Scarlet Ruse. (It turns out Blood Oranges and Tequila work very well together.)

Please enjoy the cocktail and my review!

Posted in Anejo Tequila, Cocktails & Recipes, Tequila, Tequila Review | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Patrón Añejo Tequila

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