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Archive for the ‘Cocktails & Recipes’ Category

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Review: Auchentoshan Three Wood Single Malt Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on May 31, 2012

The Auchentoshan Distillery is somewhat of an anomaly amongst Scottish Distillers. It is the only Scottish Distillery that triple distills their entire core range of whisky. Triple distillation is common amongst Irish distillers, but very uncommon for a distillery producing Single Malt Whisky. The result of the triple distillation is a more laid back easy-going style of whisky which perhaps carries more floral elements, but which also may be a little less robust in character than traditional single malts.

The Auchentoshan Three Wood Single Malt Whisky is a recent addition to that core range of Auchentoshan Single Malts. It is (of course) a triple distilled whisky which has been matured in three different styles of Oak. These are in order: American Bourbon, Spanish Oloroso Sherry, and Pedro Ximenez Sherry casks. This unique aging process leads to a complex whisky with flavours from each style of oak imprinted upon the whisky. I recently received a sample bottle of the Auchentoshan Three Wood from the Regional Manager of Shiralli Agencies who are the local importer and distributor of Morrison Bowmore products. (The Auchentoshan Distillery and its brands are owned by Morrison Bowmore.)

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“…  The whisky is rich with the aroma of oak which has firm stains of the sherry cask  influence (dates, raisins and prunes), as well as some sweet toffee (brown sugar, vanilla and butterscotch) overtones. As the glass breathes, I sense a bit of a woodland aroma with scents of  elderberry and willow thicket rising into the breezes with perhaps a bit of heather as well. Fruity tones are growing which remind me of blackberries and saskatoons …”

You may read the full review here:

Review: Auchentoshan Three Wood Single Malt Whisky

Please enjoy the review as well as my new cocktail suggestion, The Autocrat Cocktail.

Cheers!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Scotch Whisky, Single Malt Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Auchentoshan Three Wood Single Malt Whisky

Review: Cruz del sol Reposado Tequila

Posted by Arctic Wolf on May 29, 2012

According to the website information, Cruz Tequila contains no chemicals, additives or flavorings. It is produced from pure 100% blue agave grown in the Mexican State of Jalisco. After harvesting this agave, it is steamed in traditional hornos (or brick ovens) for two days. The cooked agave is then allowed to cool after which the juice is extracted and then fermented. The Cruz Del Sol Reposado is double distilled and aged in oak barrels for five months. All of the Cruz Tequila is packaged and bottled using recycled materials. This includes the blown glass bottles and the aluminum caps as well as the aluminum cross on the front label.

This product is being brought into my home market of Alberta by local the Importer PB Beverages who arranged for me to receive a sample bottle to review here on my website.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“… The initial aroma from the glass is lightly sweet with the mild punky aroma of agave combining well with the muted scent of white pepper. There is a mild vanilla which rises into the air above the glass, and a mellow fruity citrus scent which winds through the breezes… “

You may read the full review here:

Review: Cruz del sol Reposado Tequila

As well I have constructed a nice new recipe I recommend for this spirit called, The Lonely Silver Rain.

Please enjoy the cocktail and the review.

Cheers!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Reposado Tequila, Tequila, Tequila Review | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Cruz del sol Reposado Tequila

Review: El Dorado Spiced Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on May 27, 2012

I was privileged recently when I received an invite to visit the facilities of Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) in Guyana, South America. During this visit I was given a complete tour of the Diamond Distillery where DDL’s famous El Dorado Rums are produced. This included a tour of the old plant which houses the heritage stills (famous stills from various estates in Guyana some as old as 250 years, all working and still producing rum), and I saw DDL’s new high-capacity four-column distillation plant which is now in operation.

During this trip, I also was able to taste the entire line of El Dorado rums including the new El Dorado Spiced Rum. In fact at the guest house where I was staying, a full bottle of the El Dorado Spiced (and a few others as well) were left for our small Canadian group to enjoy each evening. I snapped a nice picture of the bottle while I was there and spent a little time gathering some tasting notes.

Here is an excerpt from the resulting review:

“…. As the glass sits, I receive firm indications of allspice and cloves rise as well as a nice updraft of cinnamon. A brief appearance of oak also reaches the breezes above the glass coinciding with some quiet notes of orange peel and citrus. I was expecting more of a molasses push from this spiced rum, but the El Dorado Spiced seems to be a lighter style of rum than what I was expecting …”

Here is a link to the full review:

Review: El Dorado Spiced Rum

As well you should try my great punch recipe at the end of the review, Georgetown Punch!

Cheers Everyone!

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

APPLETON ESTATE BARTENDER CHALLENGE (CANADA)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on May 26, 2012

I was sent an interesting press release yesterday, Apparently Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum is having a nationwide contest to find the best bartender in Canada as part of their Appleton Estate Bartender Challenge. I love cocktails so I thought I should throw up the essential details from the presser here on my website.

If you think you can mix a mean cocktail, then maybe you should head over to the Appleton Estate Bartender Challenge Canada Facebook page to obtain all of the rules and regulations of the contest which is open until June 30th (the contest is available to all Canadian Bartenders and Wait Staff). The winner will be announced on August 12th, and (this is the good part) will be awarded an all expense paid trip to Jamaica to represent Canada in the Appleton Estate Jamaica International Bartender Challenge in October 2012. Those interested in participating must submit a video entry of themselves mixing an Appleton Estate V/X and an Appleton Estate Reserve cocktail, using Angostura Bitters as an ingredient in one of their original creations. Four finalists will be notified on July 15th and their respective cocktail recipes will go on to be judged by a panel of local experts and media on the basis of flavour, originality, creativity, presentation, technique, style and knowledge of Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum.

To get you in the mood here is one of my original Appleton Estate Rum Cocktails!

Cheers!

The Appleton Celebration

2 oz Appleton Reserve Rum
2 oz  Fresh Squeezed and strained Pink Grapefuit Juice
3/4 oz  London Dry Gin
2 dashes Angostura bittlers
1 teaspoon Grenadine
ice
1/4 oz Sloe Gin
lemon slice for garnish

Combine the first five ingredients into a metal shaker with ice.
Shake until the metal shaker chills.
Strain into a cocktail glass (with or without ice).
Float the sloe gin on top
Garnish with lemon slice

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Dark Rums, Rum | Tagged: , , | Comments Off on APPLETON ESTATE BARTENDER CHALLENGE (CANADA)

Review: Herencia de Plata (Blanco) Tequila

Posted by Arctic Wolf on May 22, 2012

Herencia de Plata Blanco Tequila is a 100% Blue Weber Agave Tequila produced by TEQUILAS DEL SEÑOR, S. A. DE C. V.,  a mid-sized, fourth generation family company located in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. The company was founded in 1943 and currently produces a number of tequila brands which include, Reserva del Señor, Sombrero, Tekali, Herencia Histórico, and of course Herencia de Plata.

A sample bottle was provided to me by Westway L. LTD., who is the importer of this spirit in my home province of Alberta, and it was presented at a Tequila tasting event which I held for several friends on a lazy Sunday afternoon in March. Of course after the tasting event, I put the bottle through the paces of my review methodology to provide a review here on my website as well.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“… The aroma from the glass is somewhat soft and earthy with hints of honey caressed by a very light smoke and even lighter vanilla. A smattering of white pepper and of zesty lime has risen into the breezes, and that punky agave scent we know so well has melted nicely into the citrus and pepper. The overall impression I receive from the glass is a clean, fresh, almost floral spirit which seems to entice me to have a sip …”

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Herencia de Plata (Blanco) Tequila

I have also created a nice recipe for this spirit called The Turquoise Lament.

Please enjoy the review and the cocktail recipe I have provided, Cheers!

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

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