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Archive for the ‘Cocktails & Recipes’ Category

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Whisky Review: McClelland’s Speyside Single Malt

Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 12, 2010

Today I am returning to my review series on McClelland’s Single Malt Whiskies.  This week I am tackling the McClelland’s Speyside Single malt.

The Brand is owned by Morrison Bowmore Distillers and this whisky in their McClelland’s  line up is distilled in the region for which it is named, Speyside.

I found the McClelland’s Single Malt Speyside to be an accurate expression of a typical Speyside whisky.  It has a typical Speyside character with a spicy yet floral palate very typical of Speyside whiskies I have tried in the past.

Here is an excerpt from the review:

“The whisky is somewhat of a medium orange/gold colour in the glass.   When I swirl the glass I notice only a light oil and very skinny legs on the sides of the glass.  I receive distinct floral notes combined with honey and oak spices.  A vague anise licorice and a hint of cocoa lie behind the floral tone, and if the glass is left to sit, the aroma of oak tannin becomes stronger in the glass…”

You may read the entire review here:

Review: McClelland’s Speyside Single Malt

As well I also provided a couple of recipes for cocktails including a Rum Howler original,
The Crushed Polly.  Please enjoy the review!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Scotch Whisky, Single Malt Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Whisky Review: McClelland’s Speyside Single Malt

Tangueray No. 10 (A gin review)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 8, 2010

Oh my!  The Rum Howler Blog has branched out again.  This is my first attempt at a gin review.   My plan is to review at least three different gins by summertime subjecting them to the rigors of my peculiar review methodology.

I want to caution my readers that Gin is not a primary alcoholic beverage of which I indulge.  This means that my reviews of gin (and tequila for that matter) may more closely resemble fantasy than reality.  However, I would rather fail in trying to write a worthy review than to be satisfied with where I am at and make no attempt to grow and branch out.  (By the way I do not plan to fail!)

My method of reviewing any spirit is to discuss and score my enjoyment of the spirit. I am confident than an honest discussion of this enjoyment will lead to a worthwhile review.

So it is that we come to the first bottle of Gin which I will review,  Tangueray No. 10.  This is a premium quadruple distilled gin which sits at the top of the benchmark as far as Tangueray gin is concerned.  Here is an excerpt from my review:

“Tangueray No. 10  gin is soft and remarkably approachable.  Juniper berries lead out in front with hints of pine and spruce behind. My mouth tingles wherever the gin stops to rest which is probably caused by the higher than normal alcohol proof (94.6).  I can taste a light orange sweetness akin to Triple Sec or Cointreau in the background.  Floral notes drift  in and out of the currents of my palate, as do other citrus flavours….

You may read the full review here….

Gin Review: Tangueray No. 10

Of course I have added a few “forrest approved” cocktails including my sumptuous Key Lime Gimlet!

Enjoy the review!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Gin, Gin Review | Tagged: , , , | 2 Comments »

Rum Review: El Dorado Premium Rums

Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 7, 2010

The family of El Dorado Premium Rums

El Dorado Premium Rums

El Dorado’s family of premium rums are distilled in Demerara County (Guyana, South America) and are popular throughout the world for their rich taste and sweetness.  So popular that the word demerara has become an adjective used by reviewers of whisky and rum alike to describe this particular style of sweetness when reviewing fine spirits.

Demerara County in fact has a rich three hundred year history of rum production. Some of the wooden stills first used to produce their rum are still in use today, and I have said it before, if anyone ever puts together a list of the “seven wonders of the rum world”, these original wooden stills will be at the top of that list.  The combination of old wooden stills in conjunction with modern stills and distilling techniques has allowed Demerara Distillers Ltd. (DDL) to build a reputation for outstanding quality and consistent production over many years. In fact, Demerara Distillers is the currently one of the largest suppliers of bulk Caribbean rums to Europe and North America.

Over the next few months I will endeavor to review all three of El Dorado’s Premium Rums.  The 12 Year, The 15, Year and the 21 Year Old Rums.  I shall kick off this series with a review re visitation of El Dorado 12 Year Old Rum.  Although I have previously reviewed the 12 year Old I could not resist the chance to open a new bottle and see if my palate has changed.  Here is an excerpt from the review:

“…This rum enters my mouth with a spicy sweet baking spice explosion.  Deep dark brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, hints of orange peel and citrus fruit lay upon a foundation of spicy wood tannins….”

You may read the rest of the review here:

Review: El Dorado 12 Year Old Rum

Please enjoy this  review and the follow up reviews I will be providing for the rest of the El Dorado Premium Rums!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Rum Review: El Dorado Premium Rums

Whiskey Review: Evan Williams Single Barrel Bourbon

Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 3, 2010

Last year I purchased a bottle of Evan Williams Single Barrel  Kentucky Bourbon, the 1998 vintage.  It sat on my shelf, waiting and  waiting to be opened.  I had only one bottle and to be honest it looked  so nice that I really did not want to ruin the look of my liquor cabinet  by opening it.  It was in my “save for a special occasion” shelf.  Then  something wonderful happened.  My good friend, Dennis was given a  bottle as well.  He had no such compunction to save the elixir and he  happily agreed to share some samples with me.   (In case you feel I was  taking advantage of him, I should let you know that this is a mutual  thing that we do,  I share, and he shares, and everyone is very happy as  we both get to try many more wonderful spirits this way.)

Now Evan Williams Single Barrel whiskeys are indeed something very  special.  They have been winning awards since 1990, in a vast variety of  Spirit’s journals, magazines and contests including Gold Medals at the  Prestigious San Fransisco World Spirits Competition for their 1993 and 1994 bottlings.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“…After taking a deep wiff of the air around my whiskey glass, I close my eyes.  In my imagination, I have just stumbled into a sawmill where they are cutting large rough timber beams.  I can smell the wood tannins exposed on the sides of the timber and the fresh cut wood grain scent is delightful.  Of course there is much more than oak timbers in the glass:  wild honey,  rich vanilla, toffee, caramel and hints of molasses rise from the glass in a rich vibrant aroma which is spicy and tannin filled….”

Your may read the full review here:

Review: Evan Williams Single Barrel Kentucky Bourbon

I have supplied a myriad of cocktails for the review for your enjoyment!

Posted in American Whiskey, Cocktails & Recipes, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Whiskey Review: Evan Williams Single Barrel Bourbon

Rum Review: Appleton Estate 21 Yr Old Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on March 31, 2010

This is the final review in my series of Appleton Estate Rum Reviews, which I began to publish about two months ago.  The impetus for the review series was an invite offered to me to attend a free tasting of Appleton rums in my hometown.  I received a small sample bottle of Appleton VX, and since I owned just about every other Appleton Estate Rum up to the 21 year old I thought it would be fun to review them all.  The 30 year old just about to be released in my locale will be missing from this review series unless I can acquire a sample at a later date.

Although the reviews have been published separately spaced out over two months, I did a lot of comparative tasting between the various ages and styles of Appleton.  My final reviews scores are accurate reflections of how I judge these rums relative to each other.  You can find all of my Appleton Reviews on the side of the blog in the Page menu which for your convenience lists all of the rums I have reviewed alphabetically.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“…The rum is a rich dark brown colour which leaves a thick film on my glass when it is swirled. This film slowly releases thick fat legs back into the rum.  As I watch the legs slowly crawl down the sides of the glass, the rum brings forth mild brown sugar and orange citrus notes.  But.. as you wait the nose begins to change…”

You may read more here:

Review: Appleton Estate 21 Yr Old Rum

As well my friend forrest and I have collaborated on a new cocktail we call THE MONK’S UNCLE.

Enjoy the review and cocktail.

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Rum Review: Appleton Estate 21 Yr Old Rum

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