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Diplomatico Hacienda Saruro

Posted by Arctic Wolf on January 8, 2011

Hacienda Saruro is an aged rum liqueur produced by Distilerias Unidas, S.A. In case that particular distilling company doesn’t roll off your tongue easily, just think Diplomatico Rum.  That’s right, the people who brought us the wonderful Diplomatico Rums are responsible for Hacienda Saruro.

If you are wondering what an aged rum liqueur is supposed to be, then my next suggestion is that you think about Drambuie. Drambuie is the honey flavored scotch whisky liqueur made from aged malt whisky, heather, honey, and a blend of herbs and spices.  What Drambuie is to Scotch, Hacienda Saruro has the potential to be to Rum.

I was given my first sample of this elixir over a year ago at a special tasting I was invited to by the local Importers of Diplomatico Rum, PB Beverages. At the tasting, everyone who was there was bowled over by the flavour and richness of this unique spirit. It has taken a year to finally reach the market, but the product has finally arrived in Alberta, and so has my sample bottle from PB Beverages.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“… There is a nice mixture of honey sweetness and sharper oak tannin, as well as a bevy of dry fruit and fieldberries sitting underneath to support the flavour. I taste a nice ribbon of orange flavour as well as citrus zest riding in the currents. Vanilla, hazelnut and almonds ride in the currents as well although the nutty flavours are not assertive…”

You may read my full review here:

Review: Diplomatico Hacienda Saruro

As usual I have included a nice recipe after the review which I call the Kentucky Crocodile.

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Flavouerd Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Diplomatico Hacienda Saruro

The 2nd Annual Edmonton Whisky Festival

Posted by Arctic Wolf on January 4, 2011

I would like to invite everyone to the 2nd Annual Edmonton Whisky Festival in support of the MS Society of Canada. Last years event was a smash hit and raised over $6000.00 in support of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada. This year it is hoped that the amount of money raised can be increased by 50 % for this worthy cause.

Here are the important details:

What: 2nd Annual Edmonton Whisky Festival in support of the MS Society of Canada
When: January 19, 2011 (7:00 pm – 10:00 pm)
Where: Sutton Place Hotel, 10235 – 101 Street, Edmonton, Alberta
Price: $75.00

The admission price ticket gets you into what I believe is Edmonton’s Premier Whisky Event.

As well,  your ticket stub gives you $10.00 or 10 % (whichever is greater) off of your next purchase of Scotch Whisky at Vines Wine Merchants in Edmonton.

The event will also features over 15 whisky importers and distributors with over 100 different whiskies to sample as part of your ticket price.  And you even get a cool commemorative Edmonton Whisky Festival Glen Cairn glass.

I was there last year and can confirm that I had a blast pouring over 100 whiskies to sample with only one night to do it. (Last year’s event sold so well that a larger venue had to selected for this year. )

Additional events planned in conjunction with the festival are a special Bowmore Dinner at the Petroleum Club with Dave Gordon; and a special Silent Auction to raise additional funds.

Tickets for the Edmonton Whisky Festival and the related  Special Events are available at:

Vines-Riverbend Wine Merchants – 2331 Rabbit Hill Rd, Edmonton (780-434-9444)

or

The Vineyard Wine Market – 41 St. Thomas Street, St. Albert (780 419 6696)
email: vineyardwinemarket@telus.net

*Remember your ticket stub is redeemable for a $10 or 10% discount, whichever is the greater, on your next purchase of Scotch Whisky at Vines Wine Merchants. Offer expires April 30, 2011

So come on out and support the MS Society and have a great time doing it. I will be there and would love to say hello!

*(Just a note to let everyone know that I am not affiliated in any way with Vines-Riverbend Wine Merchants, I just think what they are doing with this festival and their support of the MS Society is worthy of writing about!)

Posted in Fund Raisers, Howls | Tagged: , , | Comments Off on The 2nd Annual Edmonton Whisky Festival

Revisting Mount Gay Extra Old

Posted by Arctic Wolf on January 3, 2011

One of my very early rum reviews was for Mount Gay Extra Old Rum (MGXO). In fact, this was one of the ten original reviews that I published to open my site back in October 2009. Since that time, when the occasion has presented itself for me to revisit these early reviews, I have done so. This is because I acknowledge that my earliest reviews were perhaps a little fragmentary, and that my experience since these earlier reviews has grown with my understanding of rum and whisky.

In the interests of fairness, I have left my older review at the bottom of the review page such that this evolution will be obvious to my readers.

The Mount Gay Extra Old Rum (MGXO) is produced in a traditional style using copper pot stills. The rum is double distilled and aged in American white oak barrels which were previously used to age Kentucky bourbon. This is a well aged rum with the blend consisting of a wide range of rums from 7 years of age up to 15 years of age.  I received the sample bottle for this review from Scott Parker of  Select Wines who are the importers of Mount Gay Rums in my locale.

Here is a snippet from my review:

“…As the glass decants, the aroma sweetens and I can smell a sweeter brown sugar within the molasses as well as luxurious baking spices. As I continue to allow the nose to develop, I get additional scents of roasted marshmallows, oak spices, ripe fruit, and scattered tea leaves. Hints of faint copper-like scents, unsweetened cocoa and an indistinct cigar-like aroma are drifting in and out of the breezes. This is deep and complex…”

You may read the full review here:

Rum Review: Mount Gay Extra Old Barbados Rum

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Revisting Mount Gay Extra Old

Review of Potter’s Special Old Rye Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 28, 2010

Potter’s Special Old Rye Whisky was originally produced by Potter’s Distilleries (founded by Ernie Potter in 1958). When Highwood Distillers finalized the purchase of Potter’s Distilleries in 2005, they brought all of the aging whisky stocks from the Potter’s warehouse facilities in Kelowna, British Colombia to their new warehouse facility in High River, Alberta and continued to let them age at their site in the foothills just east of the Rocky Mountains. From these aging whisky stocks Highwood has kept the Potter’s Whisky brands alive, incorporating them into their portfolio of whisky products.

Potter’s Special Old Rye Whisky is primarily a corn-based whisky which has been aged in charred American White Oak barrels for 4 – 5 years.  As per Canadian tradition, the whisky is labeled as a “Rye Whisky” because of the rye flavour profile which has been imparted by adding a percentage of aged rye grain whisky to the blend.  The bottle I am reviewing was given to me by Allan Owen, the Highwood Distillers Sales Rep in my area.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“…A clean spicy rye is out in front carried by light oak and the combination delivers a nice wonderful mouth-feel full of what I can only term as old-time traditional Canadian Whisky flavour. In fact this might just be the closest that I have come to recapturing the Canadian Whisky flavour that I remember from my younger days…”

You may read the full review here:

Review: Potters Special Old Rye Whisky

Please enjoy the review and the cocktail that follows.

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Cocktails & Recipes, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , | 2 Comments »

Arctic Wolf’s Christmas Eggnog

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 21, 2010

This year I am going to re-post my favourite recipe for the Christmas Eggnog.  This is a simple recipe in terms of ingredients, but it will require a bit of a baker’s touch get it just right. I switched up the Rum and the Whisky in the recipe from last year and found it to be as good as ever.

Arctic Wolf’s Christmas Eggnog
(This makes about four servings. )

3 eggs at room temperature, (yolk and whites  separated)
3/8 cup sugar (for the yolks)
3 tablespoons sugar (for the whites)
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
a touch fresh ground cloves (About 1/16 of a teaspoon)
a pinch of fresh grated nutmeg (About 1/8 of a teaspoon)
a dash of fresh ground cinnamon (About 3 /16 of a teaspoon)
1 1/2 cups whipping cream, chilled
1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup dark rum ( Mount Gay Gold Eclipse)
2/3 cup Canadian Whisky (Potters Special Old)

……………………………………………………..

First the yolks

Separate your egg yolks and your egg whites in two bowls. Whisk the first amount of sugar and the vanilla into the egg yolks.   A a touch of  ground cloves, a pinch of nutmeg and a dash of cinnamon into the yolk bowl.   Add the cream, the milk and the rum and whisky (for adult consumption only). Make sure everything is mixed thoroughly.

Now the whites

This is where a baker’s touch is necessary.
Beat the egg whites until they form soft peaks (3-4 minutes). Add the second amount of sugar slowly during this beating process.

Now we combine

Gently and with large circular motions blend the egg white mixture into the yolk mixture, trying to keep things as ‘poofy’ as possible.

Sprinkle a little left over spice on the top of each glass, and enjoy with your favourite chocolates!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Howls | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on Arctic Wolf’s Christmas Eggnog

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