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

    • 15,550,932 pageviews since inception

  • Archives

  • Follow The Rum Howler Blog on WordPress.com

Archive for the ‘Cocktails & Recipes’ Category

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »

Whiskey Review: Old Parr Superior 18 Year Old Whiskey

Posted by Arctic Wolf on January 20, 2010

Its time to return to Scotland and sample one of the most decorated Scottish Blends ever produced, Old Parr Superior 18 year Old Whisky. Old Parr Superior,  is blended and bottled by MacDonald Greenlees Distillers, who in turn are owned by Diageo (click on the link to go to the Diageo website.)

Old Parr Superior was named by Jim Murray as the 2007 World Whisky of the Year, in his 2007 Whisky Bible.    This recognition caused quite a stir and a fair amount of consternation, as the blend was only available overseas, in the Pacific Rim markets.   But collectors and whisky aficionados may now begin to rejoice as rumors have begun to circulate that this whisky is coming to North America.

So in preparation of this event I have prepared a review of the Old Parr Superior whisky using a bottle from my own private collection to sample and taste.  Here is an excerpt from my hard work:

“The whisky arrives in the mouth with a soft chewy peat. The soft peat completely envelops the palate, and it is as if you have to chew through the smoke and peat to get at the other flavours.   As the Old Parr sits on my tongue, the other flavours pop out of the smoke one by one…”

You can read the full review here:

Review: Old Parr Superior Scotch Whisky

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

Whisky Review: Black Velvet Deluxe Canadian Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on January 19, 2010

I don’t think it would shock anyone who reads my blog to know that I love Canadian Whisky.  I find it to be the smoothest, easiest drinking whisky in the world.  It mixes well in all kinds of cocktails, and for the most part Canadian Whisky has a consistent flavour profile, with the variance between brands being found  in the nuances of their flavour profiles, rather than in large differences between those  flavour profiles.

Black Velvet Canadian Whisky was originally produced at the famous  Schenley distillery in Valleyfield Quebec in 1945, and has a long history in North America.  The original name was Schenley Black Label; but, because of its unusual smoothness, the name was later changed to Black Velvet.  A very successful marketing campaign introduced in 1969 featured the “Black Velvet Girl”. Famous faces who have been Black Velvet Girls are, Christie Brinkley, Sybil Sheppard and Cheryl Tiegs.

Now the whisky is a blend of distilled and aged Canadian whisky currently produced at the Black Velvet Distillery (Palliser Distillery) in Lethbridge Alberta. According to   the brand owner,  Constellation Brands, Black Velvet is the second highest selling whisky in its category in the US.

Here is an excerpt from the review:

“This is a polished, smooth whisky with the alcohol bite soothed and mellowed.  The spices are mild and enjoyable, and I find good  balance.  Citrus fruits sit at the front of the palate, with honey and vanilla.  Of course we have a strong rye influence which provides the foundation upon which these flavours rest. …”

You can read the entire review here:

Review: Black Velvet Deluxe Canadian Whisky

As well I have included a nice “forrest approved” highball drink with a real ‘Canadian’ flair,   called “The Canadian Caribou“.

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Cocktails & Recipes, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , | 5 Comments »

Rum Review: Renegade Rum Company 2000 Jamaica Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on January 15, 2010

Its time for another review of those artisan cask rums from Renegade Rum Company.  This time from the Hampden Distillery, The Renegade Rum Company 2000 Jamaica Rum.

.Jamaica’s Hampden Estate was created (coincidentally) by two Scottish families (The Stirlings and the Farquarsons)  in 1753.  The rums distilled there, are pot still rums, full of fruity flavour and character.   The Renegade Rum 2000 Jamaica Rum was aged for eight in bourbon casks at the Jamaican Hampden Estate and then finished Scotland  in white wine Chateau Climens Sauternes casks.

This unusual finish is what sets Renegade Rums apart from the crowd,  Their rums are single vintage artisan rums made from hand selected stocks of some of the finest  and most unique distilleries in the Caribbean.   Renegade will hand pick the rum casks from the selected distilleries and ship the rums to Scotland to refinish or ‘Ace” them in hand selected finishing barrels at the Bruichladdich distillery.

The barrels chosen for refinishing are not second run whiskey barrels from the United States, but instead more exotic wine barrels from selected wineries in Europe.  These rums are unique and quite unlike anything produced anywhere else in the world.  They do not taste like traditional rums, rather they taste like new hybrid spirits with the influence from the finishing casks setting their imprint firmly into the rum.

Here is my review:

Review: Renegade Rum Company 2000 Jamaica Rum

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

This review includes another ‘forrest approved cocktail“.  This one is called,  A Sloe Walk in the Jungle. The name of the cocktail highlights the myriad of scents and aromas which rise from the glass as this rum is poured.  A veritable ‘Jungle’ of aroma.

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , | 2 Comments »

Tequila: Herradura Reposado

Posted by Arctic Wolf on January 12, 2010

HERRADURA Reposado

The first time I approached someone of knowledge about Tequila, I was a little apprehensive.  My few experiences with Tequila in my youth had not inspired me to become an aficionado.  In fact you could say that I avoided the Tequila section of the corner liquor store, certain from my youthful experiences that nothing good could come from those bottles.  Songs about people “jumping on the tables and shooting out the lights” did not inspire me to take a second glance,  and “wasting away again in Margarita ville” did not seem to me to be a good idea.  But curiosity finally got the better of me, as it seemed certain that the drink must have some redeeming features.  After all, people did buy and drink the stuff , did they not.  So I approached the counter at a local boutique store and asked,  “What would you suggest, if I wanted a good tequila to serve to friends.”

The bottle I was shown was Herradura Reposado.  I bought it, and have never regretted the purchase.  Here is a little background material about this Tequila and the company that makes it.

Thirty miles from Guadalajara, in the state of Jalisco, in the town of Amatitan,  is where the Herradura LDN is found.   Herradura LDN makes a true 100% Weber Blue agave Tequila.  The agave is cooked in old stone ovens, and distilled on old copper pot stills, and this tequila making tradition has won numerous awards and accolades for The Herradura company

As well, Herradura LDN  is credited on more than one website as pioneering the movement towards aging tequila in oak and making Reposado and Anejo Tequila.  Reposado means rested, and literally the implication is that this style of tequila ‘rests’ in oak.  By law Reposado tequilas must spend more than two months and less than one year in oak to be considered  “Reposado”.  The Herradura Reposado stays in oak for eleven months.

Here is my review for Herradurra Reposado Tequila:

Tequila Review: Heradurra Reposado

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

Rum Review: Juan Santos Antigua Reserva 21 Yr Old Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on January 10, 2010

This is the last review I am doing on a series of new Colombian rums that are entering the North American marketplace via my home province of Alberta.  Allow me to introduce Juan Santos Twenty One Year Old Rum.  I found this to be a tremendous rum with unmatched smoothness, and a wonderful soft clean finish.

Juan Santos rums  are a product of Casa Santana Liquors, the only privately held liquor company in Colombia which  is specializing in the production of premium aged rum.  Casa Santana was founded in Barranquilla, Colombia in 1995, by the Riascos family.  Their  rums have been developed by Cuban master blenders who began  their craft in Cuba before leaving the island in 1994, bringing with them their rum making craft.

Casa Santana has  two production plants which are located in Santa Marta, and in the Free Trade Zone of Barranquilla.  These  are located on the Caribbean coast of Colombia which provides access for shipping abroad.

Casa Santana claims their rum production is completely  free of additives and artificial essences.

Here is my review:

Review: Juan Santos Antigua Reserva 21 Yr Old Rum

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Rum Review: Juan Santos Antigua Reserva 21 Yr Old Rum

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »