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Appleton Estate’s Joy Spence

Posted by Arctic Wolf on July 5, 2012

I would like to welcome Joy Spence, the current Master Blender for Appleton Estate Rum to my website.

I was granted a rare chance to interview Ms. Spence via email in early June just before the launch announcement of Appleton Estate’s brand new and very rare Limited Edition Appleton Estate 50 Year Old Jamaica Rum – Jamaica Independence Reserve. Ms. Spence speaks clearly about her job as Appleton Estate Rum’s – Master Blender; the incredible heritage of Appleton Estate Rum; and the unique Terrior that is the Nassau Valley where all the sugarcane for Apple Estate Rum is grown. We also discuss the aforementioned Limited Edition Appleton Estate 50 Year Old Jamaica Rum – Jamaica Independence Reserve as well as my current favourite Appleton Rum the Appleton Estate Master Blenders’ Legacy. We even have some fun learning which rum Ms. Spence would prefer to drink in the Canadian Arctic, and which would be her favourite if she were stranded on a tropical island. Finally Joy Spence surprises even me by revealing her favourite rum cocktail, and for a guy like me who loves to mix great rum with soda, it is a sure-fire winner!

Click here for my interview with Joy Spence….

An Interview with Appleton Estate’s Joy Spence

I hope you all enjoy the interview!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Dark Rums, Extras, Interviews, Rum | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on Appleton Estate’s Joy Spence

Review: Demerara Superior High Wine

Posted by Arctic Wolf on July 3, 2012

The Diamond Distillery sits on the East Bank of the Demerara River near Georgetown, Guyana. The Distillery was originally part of the Diamond Estate which was the last of the Sugar Plantation Estates in Guyana to produce rum, and it is now home to Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL).

I was given a unique opportunity to witness this facility in operation when I was invited by Woodman Wines and Spirits and Demerara Distillers to travel to Guyana for a very exclusive tour of the DDL facilities. Part of that tour included visiting trade establishments within nearby Georgetown to get a feel for the local retail market. One product which I saw in a lot of the local establishments was Demerara Superior High Wine. This product is a single distilled high-proof ‘high wine’ produced for the local Guyanese market. I was intrigued by this High Wine for two reasons. First, because it seems to be extremely popular in the local market, and second, because it represents the base distillate which DDL produces from the original Diamond Estate Coffey Still No. 3. This is one of the important stills used in the production of their world-class rums.

I requested a small sample of this ‘high wine’ because I wanted to taste this spirit before it was altered by further distillation and/or years of barrel aging. I thought sharing this review here on my website might prove interesting for my readers as well. Here is an excerpt from my review:

“… When I poured my High Wine into my glencairn glass, I understood very quickly why this product is so popular locally. It displays a very attractive nose. Light scents of sugarcane, hints of banana and orange peel, and a very light ribbon of mint rose to the air almost immediately… “

You may read my full review here:

Review: Demerara Superior High Wine

Please enjoy this glimpse into the unaged Demerara Rum flavour profile !

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Overproof Rum, Rum, White Rums | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Demerara Superior High Wine

Review: Avion Silver Tequila

Posted by Arctic Wolf on July 1, 2012

According to the website, Avion Silver Tequila is a pure 100% Weber Blue Agave tequila made from the hand-picked agave grown in the Highlands of Jalisco, Mexico. As a highland tequila,we can expect the Avion Tequila to exhibit strong fruity citrus notes and to have a little hot pepper in the delivery and in the finish. (This is as opposed to lowland tequila which has stronger earthier flavours of agave and less hot pepper.)

To produce Avion Tequila, the harvested agave from the highlands is first slow roasted in brick ovens to bring out its natural flavors and aromas. After distillation, but before the tequila is bottled it is run through a proprietary “Ultra Slow Filtration” process which apparently lasts ten times longer than the filtration process for other tequilas. Something good must be happening because according to the Judges at the 2012 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, this tequila is pretty darn good. They awarded Avion Silver Tequila as the Best Unaged White Spirit, and then gave it a Double Gold Medal for the second year in a row.

This product has been brought into my local market by Corby, and I was delighted when the local rep arranged for me to receive a bottle to review on my website.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“… When I brought the glass to my nose, I was taken aback. The nose is wonderful. There is a light effervescent aroma of grapefruit zest which caught my attention immediately. The aroma is very reminiscent of the smells of springtime just after a light rain shower; it is fresh, clean and very enticing… “

You may read my full review here:

Review: Avion Silver Tequila

As well I have included another original cocktail, The Dreadful Lemon Sky!

Please enjoy my cocktail suggestion and of course, my review.

Cheers and Happy Canada Day!

Posted in Blanco Tequila, Cocktails & Recipes, Tequila, Tequila Review | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Avion Silver Tequila

Review: Bombay Sapphire London Dry Gin

Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 30, 2012

I have been on a bit of a gin kick lately, and recently re-acquainted myself with Bombay Sapphire London Dry Gin. The reunion went quite well, and I thought I would update my review here on the website. The result was some minor changes to the tasting notes and a very minor change in the score.

Bombay Sapphire Gin is distributed by Bacardi. It was launched in 1987, and draws its unusual name from a competition where several marketing agencies were asked to submit possible names and bottle designs for the new Gin. Bombay Sapphire, the chosen name, refers to the British Empire and India heritage for the spirit in India, as gin was an extremely popular spirit during the time of the British Raj. The Star of Bombay (featured on the label) is a famous Indian Sapphire now on display at the Smithsonian Institute.

Bombay Sapphire Gin is a London Dry Gin. This style of gin is produced through a double distillation of a neutral grain spirit with botanicals added during the second distillation. The botanicals in Bombay Sapphire Gin which are listed on the company website are as follows:

Spanish almonds and lemon peel, West African grains of paradise, Chinese licorice, juniper berries from Tuscany, orris root from Italy, angelica root from Saxony, coriander seed from Morocco, cassia bark from Indo China, and cubeb berries from Java.

It will be most interesting to see what this bevy of ingredients from around the world has imparted into the spirit.

“… The aroma from the glass is a clean aroma with a piny (juniper) citrus note. A well-defined floral character sits with the juniper, but it will take a better nose than I have to distinguish the effects of each of the ten botanicals used to produce the gin. What i smell is a hint of lilac and mint. I also seem to catch an aroma reminiscent of sweet grass, and a vague humus like scent in the glass which is not unappealing.… “

You may read my full review here

Review: Bombay Sapphire London Dry Gin

This is such a nice gin that instead of one recipe, I found myself recommending two, the traditional Dry Gin Martini, and my recipe, Mean Streets.

Please enjoy the review, and do try a few cocktails, Cheers!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Gin, Gin Review | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on Review: Bombay Sapphire London Dry Gin

Review: Calgary Stampede (Commemorative) 25 Year Old Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 28, 2012

Just over a week ago, I introduced the Calgary Stampede Commemorative 25 Year Old Whisky here on my website. The whisky is a single bond offering produced entirely from corn distillate and aged for 25 years in charred American white oak. It is blended entirely with naturally sourced Rocky Mountain spring water, and has a limited production of only 6000 bottles. In order to maintain good contact with the oak during the lengthy aging process, this bond was re-gauged or re-barreled twice during its aging life. New barrels were not introduced when Highwood distiller’s made the liquid consolidation. Instead they chose to maintain the aging process in the original barrels in which the spirit began its maturation.

I was given a sample bottle to review by the folks at Highwood Distillers who produced the whisky and I am sharing my review of this whisky here on my website.

Here is an excerpt:

“… As you let the glass breathe, the flavours (and the aroma) become deeper and richer. There are some almond flavours that over time develop towards marzipan, and there is some orange peel that begins to taste like marmalade as the glass sits and the flavours meld. Some pungent baking spices (cinnamon, vanilla and ginger) and flavours of melted vanilla ice-cream appear as if by magic… “

You may read the full review here:

Review: Calgary Stampede (Commemorative) 25 Year Old Whisky

Please enjoy the review!

(Because a 25 Year Old Canadian Whisky is special, my friend Davin de Kergommeaux of Canadian Whisky and I agreed to review this spirit on the same day. As part of my review I have provided a link to Davin’s opinion as well)

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Calgary Stampede (Commemorative) 25 Year Old Whisky

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