The Rum Howler Blog

(A Website for Spirited Reviews)

  • Copyright

    Copyright is inherent when an original work is created. This means that the producer of original work is automatically granted copyright protection. This copyright protection not only exists in North America, but extends to other countries as well. Thus, all of the work produced on this blog is protected by copyright, including all of the pictures and all of the articles. These original works may not be copied or reused in any way whatsoever without the permission of the author, Chip Dykstra.

  • Cocktails and Recipes

    Click Image for Awesome Recipes

  • Industry Interviews

    Interviews

    Click the Image for Great Interviews with the Movers of Industry

  • The Rum Howler Interview (Good Food Revolution)

    Click on the Image to see my interview on Good Food Revolution

  • The Rum Howler Blog

    Unknown's avatar

  • Rum Reviews

  • Whisky Reviews

  • Gin Reviews

  • Tequila Reviews

  • Vodka Reviews

  • Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

    Join 1,092 other subscribers

  • Subscribe

  • Visitors

    • 15,539,544 pageviews since inception

  • Archives

  • Follow The Rum Howler Blog on WordPress.com

Author Archive

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »

Review: Canadian Club 40 Year Canadian Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 3, 2018

This past holiday season, a new Canadian whisky was on the wish lists of Canadian Club fans. After 40 years of resting in American oak barrels in Windsor, Ontario, Canadian Club released Canadian Club 40 Year Old, its oldest age expression released to date, and possibly the oldest in Canadian whisky history.

According to Rob Tucker, Senior Brand Manager, Canadian & American Whiskies at Beam Suntory:

“With 160 years of great whisky making, Canadian Club’s numerous gold medal awards won in recent spirit competitions, and with our storied past as the preeminent club whisky in speakeasies which were known for stylish, stirring times, and a little mischief in mixed company, it only makes sense that a historic brand like Canadian Club gets to treat Canadians with such a delicious one-of-a-kind whisky like Canadian Club 40 Year Old,”

 

According to my sources, Canadian Club 40 Year Old was produced from a selection of American Oak barrels which contained 100% corn whisky. These barrels had been consolidated many times over the course of 40 years to minimize the oxidation of the spirit during its lengthy maturation period. The whisky has been released in part to commemorate Canada’s 150 Anniversary, and was available with full distribution across Canada as of Mid November in limited quantities.

According to my sources, the whisky is still available at select locations across Canada.

Here is a link to my recent review:

Review: Canadian Club 40 Year Canadian Whisky 

” … The aroma in the breezes above the glass offers no disappointment. My immediate reaction was Yumm! The breezes brought forth a combination of butterscotch, oak and vanilla which was melded into a luscious toffee. After a few minutes I began to notice a welling up of fresh corn underlain with firm impressions of tobacco and hints of burlap …”

Please enjoy the review, Chimo!

 

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Canadian Club 40 Year Canadian Whisky

Review: Ron Zacapa Ambar 12 Solera

Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 1, 2018

Ron Zacapa rums are made from sugar cane harvested in southern Guatemala, which is pressed into virgin sugar cane honey. The fermentation process uses a yeast strain isolated from pineapples to transform sugars within the cane honey into alcohol. After fermentation, the fermented ‘wine’ is distilled in a single continuous column. (A distillation by-product called vinasse which contains the fermented must, yeast and other non-fermentable products which are rich in sugars and minerals is recycled and used to nourish and irrigate the Guatemalan sugar cane fields.)

Zacapa rums are matured using a complicated process they call ‘Sistema Solero’. The subject of my review, Ron Zacapa Ambar 12, is produced from rums which range in age from 4 years to 12 years. The combination of high altitude aging and the variety of reused oak barrels creates a complex rum with a rich aroma and flavour. This rum is bottled at 40 % alcohol by volume, and available through the duty-free trade (at major airports).

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Ron Zacapa Ambar 12 Solera

“… The rum has a light mouthfeel with flavours of butterscotch and vanilla mingling with wood spices. Orange peel, almond and cinnamon round out the initial flavour impressions which are a firm reflection of the nose. I allowed the rum to breathe for several minutes to see if the flavour would develop further. I was rewarded with a deepening of the wood spices as well as a movement of the flavours of orange peel and almond towards marmalade and marzipan …”

Please enjoy my review which concludes with my suggested serving, the 8 P.M. Daiquiri.

Chimo!

Posted in Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on Review: Ron Zacapa Ambar 12 Solera

Review: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon

Posted by Arctic Wolf on May 30, 2018

Woodford Reserve Double Oaked is a Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey, distilled and bottled at the Woodford Reserve Distillery in  Versailles Kentucky. The folks at Woodford Reserve pride themselves in the manufacture of what they call ‘craft whiskeys’. The Kentucky distillery is apparently located over top of a deep limestone aquifer which contains mineral rich (iron free) limestone water. The fermentation tanks are constructed from cypress which (according to the folks at Woodford Reserve) helps to eliminate unwanted flavours which could arise in a stainless steel fermentation tank. The wash is distilled three times on copper pots stills to a full 158 proof, and the resulting new make is barreled in freshly charred new oak barrels prepared by the distillers own cooperage. The spirit is set down to mature in a temperature controlled warehouse where it is carefully monitored to be bottled when the right flavour characteristic has been achieved.

In the case of the Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon undergoes a two barreled maturation process. The first portion of the maturation is in what the distillery calls a custom crafted barrel, and the second portion of the maturation is in a deeply toasted (but lightly charred) barrel which imparts a second amount of oak character to their whiskey.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon

“… What began as orange peel and oak spice moves towards marmalade. Almond scents move with the vanilla to marzipan, and rich dark fruits (raisins and cherries) have come forward with obvious impressions of dark tobacco and less obvious impressions of bittersweet chocolate. The scents and smells are so good that it is hard to stop myself from stealing a sip (oops I just did) …”

Please enjoy the review and my cocktail suggestion at the conclusion.

Chimo!

Posted in American Whiskey, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon

Review: Herencia de Plata (Reposado)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on May 28, 2018

Herencia Tequila is a 100% Blue Weber Agave Tequila produced by TEQUILAS DEL SEÑOR, S. A. DE C. V.,  a mid-sized, fourth generation family company located in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. The company was founded in 1943 and currently produces a number of tequila brands which include, Reserva del Señor, Sombrero, Tekali, Herencia Histórico, and of course Herencia de Plata.

The word ‘Herencia’ is apparently related to the english word ‘heritage’, and indeed, the Herencia de Plata has an impressive heritage. The tequila has been served by Mexican President, Vicente Fox to Queen Elizabeth II; it has won awards internationally, and it was originally produced to commemorate wedding of Juan Garcia, the son of the of the company founder, Manuel Garcia.

Here is a link to my recently updated review:

Review: Herencia de Plata (Reposado)

“… The agave spirit is rather clean and crisp. The typical flavours one expects in tequila, a somewhat earthy herbaceous agave, orange zest and lime citrus, and a squeal of white pepper are all combined in a crisp, sharp, but pleasing combination. There are hints of almond and perhaps a touch of marzipan lying under the spicier pepper and citrus. My imagination may be playing tricks on me, but I believe I also taste ripples of pineapple and spearmint playfully hiding in the back of the palate as well …”

Please enjoy my review which includes my cocktail recommendation, the Lonely Silver Rain.

Chimo!

 

Posted in Reposado Tequila, Tequila, Tequila Review | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on Review: Herencia de Plata (Reposado)

Review: Wayne Gretzky No. 99 Red Cask

Posted by Arctic Wolf on May 27, 2018

The Wayne Gretzky Distillery had its grand opening this past June (on the weekend of the 9th, 10th and 11th). The new 23,000 square foot facility (a cooperative effort between Andrew Peller (Wines) LTD. and the Great One himself, Wayne Gretzky) was constructed over two years and includes both a winery and a distillery as well as tasting areas and barrel aging cellar.

Prior to the grand opening, the distillery released its first Canadian Whisky, Wayne Gretzky No. 99 Red Cask Canadian Whisky.

According to the Wayne Gretzky Estates website information:

”  Wayne Gretzky No. 99 ‘Red Cask’ Canadian Whisky is made in small batches from grain (rye, malted rye and corn) that has been individually mashed, fermented and distilled. After aging, the whisky is finished with red wine casks from the Wayne Gretzky winery. “

Here is a link to my recent Review:

Review: Wayne Gretzky No. 99 Red Cask

“… I noticed touches of butterscotch with dusty rye and oodles of clean wood spice. There is a hint of cinnamon in the air as well as just a trace of red cherry licorice and a few wisps of vanilla …”

Please enjoy my review which concludes with my recipe suggestion, High Level Streetcar No. 99.

Chimo!

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisky Review | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Wayne Gretzky No. 99 Red Cask

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »