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Archive for the ‘Cocktails & Recipes’ Category

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Two Cocktails for Sharing

Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 13, 2010

Today, I want to add two more cocktails to my recipes section that have been buried in my blog with no way for my readers to really find them.  The first recipe was a cocktail which I constructed for the Appleton Estate Reserve rum.  It’s a nice combination of light rum, lime juice and Cointreau, sweetened with just a dab of sugar syrup.

I call this recipe, The Reserved Gentleman. You can find the full recipe here:

Rum Cocktail: The Reserved Gentleman

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The Second cocktail is one which I posted on Valentines Day, and for some reason I never added it to my recipe section.  So, today is a good day to correct that oversight. The cocktail was designed when I was sampling the El Dorado 3 Year cask Aged Rum is called, Trouble in Pink.  It’s a fruity concoction which uses white rum and Triple Sec in conjunction with three separate fruit juices (grapefruit, orange, and lime).  A healthy dash of grenadine give the cocktail its vivid pink color.

You can now find the recipe here:

Rum Cocktail: Trouble in Pink

So there you have it, two more cocktails added to my recipe section.

When I originally designed the mixed drinks I considered the first to be a masculine serving and the second much more feminine. However,  I will leave it up to you to make your own choices as to which you prefer.

After-all, the world is changing …

 

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Rum | Tagged: , | Comments Off on Two Cocktails for Sharing

Whiskey Review: DownSlope Distilling Double Diamond Whiskey

Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 10, 2010

DownSlope Distilling is the creation of three enterprising individuals, Mitch Abate, Matt Causey and Andy Causey. They began their experimentation and  passion for alcoholic spirits as home brewers. Andy dedicated himself to researching advanced wort production and home brewing techniques; Mitch traveled the country learning as much as he could about how whiskey was made: and Matt perfecting the art of grain mashing and fermentation.  Two years ago they decided to combine their talents and produce their brand of hand crafted spirits. Then they spent a year researching how this could be done, selecting the right facility, and acquiring the right equipment. Finally, they set out to establish Centennial Colorado’s first craft distillery.

Using their custom designed still and artisan wash production, Mitch Abate, Andy Causey, and Matt Causey are close to realizing their goal of producing spirits of  high quality.

Double Diamond Whisky

Pictured to the right is the Double Diamond Pot Still which is used to produce  Downslope Distilling’s whiskey.   The still was made by Copper Moonshine Stills in Arkansas, by Colonel Vaughn Wilson. The whiskey is produced in  the Irish tradition, being made primarily with malted barley.   One taste of it however, and you will realize  as well that a significant portion must be rye.  The whiskey is aged in very small experienced medium toast casks and then blended.

Here is an Excerpt from my review:

“…A light vegetal quality minces with the rye flavour in the mouth, and there is a gentle underlying sweetness which must stem from the malted barley.  Although the rye flavour carries  forward that typical ‘Canadian Whisky’ impression, we begin to taste an assertion of the ‘Irish Whiskey’ style as well….”

You may read the full review here:

Whiskey Review: DownSlope Distilling Double Diamond Whiskey

Posted in American Whiskey, Cocktails & Recipes, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Whiskey Review: DownSlope Distilling Double Diamond Whiskey

Review: Brugal Anejo

Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 7, 2010

“I am sipping a little Brugal Ron Anejo closing my eyes and letting my imagination build a place where the rum takes me….  Its late afternoon, and I have I found myself at a road side cafe near the ocean, separated from, but within walking distance of a small Dominican Village.  I’m sitting on an old wooden cabana chair with the smells of the nearby village caught up in the canvas umbrella overhead.  Oils from the roadside, and saps from the trees overhead have speckled the umbrella, mixing with the canvas and leather only to be washed out by the rain every now and again.  Some large ceramic urns with banana trees stand on the patio nearby.  The table beside me has a bowl of dried  fruit and exotic looking nuts for me to chew on.   Inside the cafe they must be baking, as I can smell  banana bread and sticky cinnamon rolls whenever the door opens.

Across the road there is a path to the ocean.   I can see the roll of ocean surf in the distance as the waves break on a rock strewn coastline.  Occasionally a gust of wind brings a little of the ocean brine across my face…..”

You may read my review for Brugal Anejo here:

Review: Ron Brugal Anejo – Desde  1888

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

Whisky Review: Wiser’s 18 Years Old Limited Release Canadian Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 4, 2010

I am going to admit right up front that this whisky has, for the last fifteen years or so, been one of my very favourites.  This stretches well back in time before I was even considering a hobby as a spirits writer.  My review, as a result,  may at times be a little over zealous in its praise, but I guess I feel it is more honest that way, as  I am truly passionate about the Wiser’s 18 Years Old Canadian Whisky. I have believed, ever since my first swallow fifteen years ago. that it is one of the very best whiskies that Canada has to offer.

In fact it was a bottle of the Wiser’s 18 Years Old which began my passion for collecting and writing about spirits.  About five years ago, a bottle of this whisky which had been purchased in 1980, and then saved for about 25 years was opened for me when I was visiting my Brother-in Law.  His sharing of a special whisky, led me to seek out a special whisky of my own that I could share with him.  The whisky I found during that search was Wiser’s Red Letter Whisky.  But it was during that search for a special whisky that I sampled and tasted my way into a passion for spirits that resulted in my blog.  So it is really a pleasure to finally review the current version of the whisky which started it all, Wiser’s 18 Years Old Limited Release Canadian Whisky.

Here is an Excerpt from my review:

“…A  rich mahogany and copper coloured whisky greeted my eyes when I poured a glass of Wiser’s 18 into my glass.  I tilted the glass and slowly turned it to impart a nice thick oily sheen upon the sides. Then I sat back and watched fat droopy droplets of whisky slide slowly back …”

You may read the full review here:

Review:Wiser’s 18 Years Old Limited Release Canadian Whisky

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Cocktails & Recipes, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , | 4 Comments »

Rum Review: Downslope Distilling White Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 1, 2010

Photo courtesy of Downslope Distilling

DownSlope Distilling, Inc. of Centennial, Colorado was incorporated in May of 2008 and began production about a year later after they received their Federal Basic Permit to produce distilled spirits.  Their sugar cane vodka and  white rum hit the market in August of 2009.

Pictured to the right is the Double Diamond Pot Still which is used to produce  Downslope Distilling’s White Rum.   The still was made by Copper Moonshine Stills in Arkansas, by Colonel Vaughn Wilson.

The white rum produced at DownSlope is made from dried Maui cane juice rather than molasses.  The cane juice is fermented in 300 gallon tanks and distilled twice in 220 gallon batches. Production from cane juice results in a drier, less sweet rum than would be produced from molasses.  After two runs through the still, the distillate is filtered through an instrument called the Lichtenstein.  This is a device designed by Master Distiller Mitch Abate who is responsible for the entire distillation, filtering, and cellaring process.

Here is an excerpt from the review:

“…The cachaca style continues into the mouth as the rum carries light caramel and no apparent oakiness.  I taste banana peel and orange zest.  Sipping it straight is not really preferred.  This is not meant to be a criticism, rather it is a straight forward assessment as very few white rums are meant to be enjoyed neat.

In tasting this rum over several days I discovered that it mixes quite well in most traditional rum drinks…”

You may read the full review here:

Rum Review: Downslope Distilling White Rum

I have included a cocktail recipe for your enjoyment.

Cheers!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Rum, Rum Reviews, White Rums | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Rum Review: Downslope Distilling White Rum

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