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Review: Alamo Añejo Tequila

Posted by Arctic Wolf on September 6, 2011

Alamo Tequila is a 100 % Agave Tequila from Agaveros y Tequileros Unidos de Los Altos, S.A. de C.V. distillery in Jalsico, Mexico. I received my bottle for review from Ravinder Minhas, of Mcbsw Sales Company Inc. who is the local importer of this spirit in Alberta, where I live. When I tried to research Alamo Tequila and the distillery from which the spirit is produced, I was unable to find out very much information at all. The producing distillery appears to be an independent distillery in Jalisco Mexico who specializes in a small range of small market tequila.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“…When I brought the glass to my nose I discovered a lightly sweet, mildly punky agave aroma lifting from the glass. There is also a mild peppery aroma rising which has a light citrus aspect to it. I receive a few whispers of vanilla and perhaps some tea and cocoa scents as well. In all I quite like the aroma which I would describe as ‘relaxed and inviting’…”

Here is a link to the full review:

Review: Alamo Anejo Tequila

As well the review features a new cocktail playfully called, A Deadly Shade of Gold.

Please enjoy the review and my new cocktail!

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

Forty Creek Barrel Select Whisky Revisited

Posted by Arctic Wolf on September 4, 2011

When I mentioned to Dave Gordon, the Regional Manager of Shiralli Agencies that I was reviewing a few Canadian whiskies on my website this summer. He arranged for me to receive a bottle of Forty Creek Barrel Select Whisky to re-acquaint myself with the Forty Creek style. Although I have previously reviewed this whisky, I felt it was appropriate to revisit it and provide a new review. (I have left my original review at the bottom of the review page so that my readers can easily see what changes I noted in the blend since my first review.)

Here is an excerpt from the new review:

“…I allowed the glass to decant and began to notice a nice marmalade scent alongside the corn and caramel. Some light baking spices were developing as was a delicate smokiness. As the glass was allowed to breathe the baking spices seemed to deepen with obvious tinctures of vanilla growing in the breezes. In fact, the longer you allow the glass to sit and breathe, the more scents and aromas seem to drift up from the glass…”

Here is a link to the full review:

Review: Forty Creek Barrel Select Whisky

I have provided a nice elegant cocktail with the review which I call, Autumn Glow.

Please Enjoy the review and the cocktail!

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Cocktails & Recipes, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Forty Creek Barrel Select Whisky Revisited

Review: Cockspur Fine Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on September 1, 2011

Barbados is generally considered the birthplace of rum dating back to 1651 where the first recorded written usage of the word Rum Bullion appears. More than two hundred years later in 1884 a Dane, Valdemar Hanschell, founded a business in Barbados, supplying visiting ships with ropes, sails, salt, fresh fruit, meat and of course Barbados rum. Through the years, business thrived and so too did the popularity of his Cockspur Rum.

Cockspur Fine Rum is the flagship brand for the company. It is distilled from Island cane molasses, aged in American Oak, and brought to bottling strength with Barbados’ own coral filtered water. Both column still and pot still rums are used to in the distillation of the rum which bottled at 40 % alcohol by volume.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“…I began by sipping the Cockspur Rum in my glass, neat, without ice. The mouth-feel was slightly oily, and the initial flavour was very complex bringing a bevy of pungent flavours forward. I tasted charred caramel (treacle) and dark molasses as well as dry fruit flavours of prunes and dates…”

Here is a link to the full review:

Review: Cockspur Fine Rum

The review includes a nice ‘punch’ style recipe which I hope you enjoy!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Cockspur Fine Rum

Review: O2 945 (Super Premium) Sparkling Vodka

Posted by Arctic Wolf on August 30, 2011

O2 945 Super Premium Sparkling Vodka bills itself as the world’s first Super Premium Sparkling Vodka. When I sampled this spirit at the Wine and Food Festival last fall I was actually quite smitten by what I encountered, hints of citrus, and some awesome tiny bubbles filling my mouth. (Anyone who has read some of my reviews, and the cocktails which I like to construct for the various spirits I have sampled, realizes that I am a soda loving  person. A spirit that combines my love of soda bubbles with a light crisp taste really has my attention from the get go.)

I contacted the importer of O2 Vodka, Premium Imports, to see about getting a sample to review on my blog. After a few months they came through in spades with samples of each the O2 Premium Sparkling Vodka and the 945 Super Premium Sparkling Vodka. Both versions carry nice light citrus notes and those wonderful champagne-like bubbles to the palate. These bubbles are supposed to stimulate the taste buds accentuating the flavours of food the vodka is served with, and the flavours of the cocktails the vodka is served in.

I invited several of my good friends over for a Vodka Tasting where we put the O2 (945 Super Premium) Sparkling Vodka through the rigors of my review methodolgy.  Here is an excerpt from what we discovered:

“…The first sip brought forward a stronger citrus presence which one of my friends at the tasting likened to a spear’s thrust of citrus zest. The carbonated bubbles seem to be bringing forward much more of the citrus flavours of the vodka…”

You may read the full review here:

Review: O2 945 (Super Premium) Sparkling Vodka

As well I have included a nice cocktail with the review, Rustic Soul.

Please enjoy the review and the cocktail!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Vodka, Vodka Reviews | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: O2 945 (Super Premium) Sparkling Vodka

Review: Gibson’s Finest 12-Year-Old Canadian Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on August 28, 2011

On November 15, 2009 I completed one of my very early Canadian Whisky Reviews. It was for the Gibson’s Finest 12 Year Old Whisky. Recently, I was sent a new sample bottle by the brand’s media company (Jesson + Company), and I have decided to revisit this Gibson’s Whisky to provide a more rounded out review, and to see if perhaps the blend has undergone any noticeable changes since my earlier review.

In 2002, the Gibson’s Finest brand was purchased by William Grant & Sons who acquired the brand to strengthen their position in the Canadian spirits marketplace. William Grant & Sons has moved the production of Gibson’s Whisky from the Schenley plant in Valleyfield, Quebec to the Hiram Walker Distillery in Windsor, Ontario. It is this move from one distillery to another which causes me to believe the taste profile may have changed recently. I do not believe any change would have significantly altered the taste profile, but I admit I am curious:

Here is an excerpt from the new review:

“…The initial nose from the glass is of honey and fruit filled rye spices, some light butterscotch, and a vague dry oakiness. As the glass breathes, ripened fields of rye grain and corn seem to waft up out of the glass. …”

Here is the full review:

Review: Gibson’s Finest 12-Year-Old Whisky

As well as part of the review I have returned to a classic cocktail, the Old Fashioned Cocktail, which tastes just marvellous when made with Gibson’s Finest.!

Please enjoy the review!

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on Review: Gibson’s Finest 12-Year-Old Canadian Whisky