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Archive for the ‘Cocktails & Recipes’ Category

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Whisky Review: Crown Royal Canadian Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 4, 2010

Photo Courtesy forrestLast week I jumped the gun somewhat, as it is my plan to review the entire family of Crown Royal Whiskies over the next several weeks and months.  Crown Royal, Crown Royal Reserve, Crown Royal Cask #16 and the very limited Crown Royal XR.  My plan of course was to begin at the bottom and review the Crown Royal, and then work my way up the product line up until I was finally reviewing the XR.  So what did I do instead?  I jumped a rung on the ladder and reviewed the Crown Royal Reserve before I reviewed the flagship brand, The Crown Royal.  So today I will correct that mistake and provide what should have been the first review.  Here is an excerpt from my review:

“The Crown Royal is a little soft and buttery in the mouth.  It has that same underlying punky flavour which I described as somehow acrid and vegetal at the same time when I reviewed the Crown reserve…”

Please read the full review here:

Review: Crown Royal Canadian Whisky

I have included a couple of recipes with the review one quite simple  (although tried and true), Crown and Coke, and one which I think has a nice elegance, The Apple Jack.

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Cocktails & Recipes, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Whisky Review: Crown Royal Canadian Whisky

Rum Review: Cockspur 12 Bajan Crafted Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 2, 2010

The origins of rum on Barbados stretch all the way back to 1637, when the first stalks of sugar cane were brought to the island by Pieter Blower from Brazil. Almost immediately sugar plantations and factories sprang up to produce sugar and molasses. The molasses, which is the byproduct of sugar production, was being distilled, and the resulting distillate was sold in bulk as early as 1650. This product first called  ‘kill devil’ was sold to taverns and ships, and by 1650 over 200 thousand gallons were being sold.  The word ‘rum’ is believed to have originated in Barbados as a shortened form of the name  ‘rum bullion’  which appeared in 1651 as a listing of a ships manifest by an unknown visitor to Barbados. This is why Barbados is generally accepted as the possible birthplace of rum.  Today rum remains one of the largest exports for the Barbados economy.

Cockspur Rum, was founded over one hundred years ago in 1884.  The rum company has a rich history and their rum is widely regarded as  amongst the very best in the world.  A friend of mine found and purchased a bottle of the Cockspur 12 rum about six months ago.  He offered to give me a large enough portion so that I could review the rum for my blog, and I gladly accepted his kindness.  I am truly blessed to have such friends as I do.  Here is an excerpt from my review:

“Several flavours jumped out at me on first tasting.  Toasted vanilla and charred molasses grabbed my taste buds first, and then I was subdued by a lurking tobacco richness that swelled up and filled my mouth. …”

You may read the full review here:

Review: Cockspur 12 Bajan Crafted Rum

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Rum Review: Cockspur 12 Bajan Crafted Rum

Rum Review: El Dorado Single Barrel PM (Port Mourant)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on January 31, 2010

A friend of mine dropped by the other day with an intriguing bottle of rum from El Dorado Rums.  A single barrel offering called El Dorado Single Barrel PM.  Apparently the folks from Demerara Distilleries Ltd  (DDL), did a series of single barrel bottlings  to highlight the various characteristics of some of their more famous rum stills.  In the case of the PM, this bottle highlights the Port Mourant Still which is the only production wooden pot still in the world today.  This is the original wooden pot still, built at the Port Mourant Sugar Factory,  which was constructed when the Demerara region began to produce navy rum for the Royal British Navy over two hundred years ago.

There is apparently two other Single barrel rums from El Dorado available in my locale, but so far this is only one that I have sampled.  Here is an excerpt from my review:

“In the glass the rum displays a rich oil which laid nice long fat legs down the inside of my glass.  This should indicate a long rich finish.  Rising from the glass is a woody tannin filled smell with a great complexity of aroma.  Behind the woody tannins I smell coarse dark brown sugar…”

You may read the full review here:

Review: El Dorado Single Barrel Demerara Rum PM

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | 3 Comments »

Whisky Review: Crown Royal Reserve Canadian Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on January 28, 2010

Crown Royal was first produced in 1939 to commemorate the arrival of the first Royal Tour in Canada of King George VI and Queen Elisabeth.  The distinctive crown shaped bottle, and royal purple bag for which Crown Royal Canadian Whisky is famous for, were created in honor of this occasion.

Today Crown Royal is one of the best known brands of Canadian Whisky in the world .  The Reserve was developed by Master Blender, Andrew Mackay,  at the Gimli Distillery near Winnipeg, Manitoba.  This whisky is aged a little longer than the regular Crown Royal for a smoother taste profile .  Here is a link to the  Crown Royal Whisky website.

I have included a cocktail suggestion with the review as well as a highball drink which I like very much.  Here is an excerpt from the review:

“Crown Royal Reserve is a little soft in the mouth.  Its flavour profile includes a little spicy rye and a little dank bourbon and corn flavour.   The whisky is smooth with a mild sweetness, a gentle vanilla, and a gentle spiciness.  A soft but firm firm oak nestles in the background….”

You may read the rest of the review here:

Review: Crown Royal Reserve Canadian Whisky

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Cocktails & Recipes, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Whisky Review: Crown Royal Reserve Canadian Whisky

Rum Review: Ron Zacapa Centenario XO

Posted by Arctic Wolf on January 25, 2010

Industrias Licoreras de Guatamala , is the consortium of  companies that have combined to produce, bottle, market , and sell internationally some of the great rums of Guatemala like Ron Zacapa and Botran Rums.  These rums are not widely available in my locale but they are highly regarded.  When I was given the chance to procure a sample of Ron Zacapa Centenario Xo 25 year old rum to review on my blog, I jumped at the chance.  (The sample was provided by a great group of guys called The Rum Chums.)

The Ron Zacapa Centenario XO is a blend of rums made from sweet first crush virgin sugar cane.  The rums are blended from solera aged stocks which range in age from six years to 25 years.  These stocks are aged in special cellars more than 7000 feet above sea level, at the Zacapa “House in the Clouds”, which is the name used locally to describe the Zacapa distillery and rum aging facility.   These barrels are a mixture of  reused American bourbon, sherry, Pedro Ximenez wines, and cognac  barrels.  The combination of solera aging and the wide variety of reused barrels creates a highly complex rum with a multitude of aroma and flavour.

I couldn’t resist snapping this picture of my rum sample next to a canvas painting that my Sister in Law gave me for Christmas (in laws always treat you better than outlaws).

Here is an excerpt from the review:

“Richness and luxury ooze from the nose of this sweet nectar.  Scents of mild toffee and spice combined with a rich oak and vanilla aroma rise from the glass to the delight of my nostrils.  There seems to be a light orange citrus weaving through the aroma.”

You can read the entire review and find my decadent cocktail, The Royal Batiste, here:

Review: Zacapa Centenario XO (25 YR Solero) Rum

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Rum Review: Ron Zacapa Centenario XO

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