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

    • 15,551,877 pageviews since inception

  • Archives

  • Follow The Rum Howler Blog on WordPress.com

Archive for the ‘Cocktails & Recipes’ Category

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »

Whisky Review: Glenrothes Select Reserve

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 8, 2009

Glenrothes Select Reserve:

Scottish Legend has it that the Glenrothes distillery produced its first drops of Scottish spirits on December 28 1879, coincidentally the same day the rail bridge over the River Tay collapsed in one of the World’s most spectacular rail disasters.

Glenrothes is a typically good Speyside Whisky, with spice and character at the forefront of its flavour profile.  The Glenrothes whisky is used as a base whisky in the Cutty Sark and Famous Grouse Blends.  Indeed if you are a blended Scotch drinker and feel the inclination to move to the Single Malts, you will find the Glenrothes Blends to be excellent introductory malts in which to begin the Journey.

The Select Reserve was blended by Malt Master  “John Ramsey” to serve as a signature malt to represent the character of the Glenrothes Distillery.  In order to capture the essence of Glenrothes the Malt Master used whiskies from a variety of vintages, and from a variety of aged oak barrels.  Thus a spectrum of flavours from the variety of ages and oak is apparent in the final single malt blend.

Here is my review of this splendid Speyside Malt:

Review: Glenrothes Select Reserve (Scotch Whisky)

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Scotch Whisky, Single Malt Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Whisky Review: Glenrothes Select Reserve

Howling Highlight: Legendario Rum Cake

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 5, 2009

This is the month of Jolly Ol’ St. Nick.  And believe it or not Fine Spirits and Christmas have a tradition of togetherness which cannot be denied.  Rum cakes and Eggnog immediately come to mind.
…………………………………………………………………………………….
Speaking of Rum cakes I found a great recipe at  Amazing Christmas Ideas.

Although their recipe is great, I like my own Legendario Rum Cake which I bake two weeks before Christmas:

Legendario Rum Cake

1/3 cup softened butter
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup white sugar
2    eggs
2/3     cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
dash cinnamon
dash nutmeg
sprinkle of salt
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 1/2 0z  Legendario rum.
1 1/3   cups chopped pecans and walnuts mixed

Mix the first 11 ingredients together and stir until everything is well moistened
Stir in the walnuts and pecans
Pour into a well greased 6 inch round casserole dish
Bake at 325° about 55 minutes.

Leave the cake in the casserole dish and drizzle 1 oz rum over the cake.
Seal the casserole dish with plastic wrap.
Once per week drizzle 1/2 oz of rum over the cake and reseal it.
Microwave and serve on Christmas eve

I love to pour a rich chocolate sauce over the hot pieces of cake when I serve it.

I will share my Eggnog recipe with you next week, as well as a list of my top twelve spirits to give as gifts this Chrismas.

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Howls, Rum | Tagged: , | 2 Comments »

Whisky Review: Schenley OFC Canadian Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 3, 2009

Schenley OFC Canadian Whisky
(The OFC stands for Original Fine Canadian)

Schenley OFC bills itself as the most decorated of Canadian Whisky boasting of 25 medal Selections at the Monde Selection Awards.  These awards, while impressive, only tell the story of previous Schenley bottlings.  I say, ‘previous’, because I notice a difference in the new bottles I have seen as opposed to the older Schenley OFC bottles.  The age statement, in the past, proudly stated ‘8 Years’.  That age statement is now entirely missing.  It remains to be seen whether some of the famous Schenley quality is missing as well.

I should note that Schenley OFC is distilled at Schenley Distilleries which have facilities in Valleyview Quebec, and Lethbridge Alberta.  It is my understanding that the facilities in Quebec are responsible for the distillation, aging and bottling of this whisky.

You can read the full review here:

Review: Schenley OFC Canadian Whisky

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Cocktails & Recipes, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , | 3 Comments »

Tequila Review: Herencia de Plata (Reposado)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on November 30, 2009

The Tequila I am reviewing today is Herencia de Plata Tequila Reposado. A sample bottle was provided to me by Westway L. LTD., who is the importer of this spirit in my home province of Alberta. I met the Operations Manager of Westway at the Edmonton Food and Wine Festival and introduced him to my review blog. Two weeks later I was asked to review their Tequila on my site and I was happy to oblige.

Herencia is apparently related to the english word ‘heritage’. And the Herencia does indeed have an impressive heritage. The tequila has been served by Mexican President, Vicente Fox to Queen Elizabeth II; it has won awards internationally as you will see when you read the review; and it was originally produced to commemorate wedding of Juan Garcia, the son of the of the company founder, Manuel Garcia.

I should note that Herencia de Plata Reposado Tequila is also a true 100 % Agave Spirit.

But that s probably enough talk for now, let me include an excerpt from the review:

“…I never imagined tequila could be so clean and crisp as this spirit is.  The agave flavour,  orange and lime citrus  notes, and the hot pepper burst are all wonderfully mixed in a crisp, sharp, but very pleasing combination.  The agave is aggressive but not in the punky manner I am accustomed to.  This is fresher and sweeter than other tequila I have previously tasted.  A very light oil allows the flavours to dance on the palate providing a delightful marzipan which sits under the spicier pepper and citrus….”

Read the Full Review Here:

Tequila Review: Herencia de Plata (Reposado)

Please enjoy the review!

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

Rum Review: Pampero Seleccion 1938

Posted by Arctic Wolf on November 27, 2009

The country of Venezuela produces some fantastic rum.  I have already reviewed the Santa Theresa 1796 from Venezuela, as well I have  featured the Venezuelan Diplomatico Rums in one of my first Howling Highlights. There is a third famous rum family from Venezuela, The Pampero Rum family.

A few weeks ago I gave you my first impressions of Pampero Seleccion 1938 when  I found what I believe was one of the last bottles for sale in Edmonton.  Now I cannot find the rum anywhere in the Province, and sadly it seems the entire family of Pampero rums will be absent from Alberta shelves this winter.

Fortunately for my readers I did find one bottle, and now I have completed five separate tasting for this rum and also experimented with a few cocktails.  You can read the results of this hard labour here:

Review: Pampero Seleccion 1938 (Rum)

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Rum Review: Pampero Seleccion 1938

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »