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Archive for the ‘Cocktails & Recipes’ Category

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Review: O2 945 (Super Premium) Sparkling Vodka

Posted by Arctic Wolf on August 30, 2011

O2 945 Super Premium Sparkling Vodka bills itself as the world’s first Super Premium Sparkling Vodka. When I sampled this spirit at the Wine and Food Festival last fall I was actually quite smitten by what I encountered, hints of citrus, and some awesome tiny bubbles filling my mouth. (Anyone who has read some of my reviews, and the cocktails which I like to construct for the various spirits I have sampled, realizes that I am a soda loving  person. A spirit that combines my love of soda bubbles with a light crisp taste really has my attention from the get go.)

I contacted the importer of O2 Vodka, Premium Imports, to see about getting a sample to review on my blog. After a few months they came through in spades with samples of each the O2 Premium Sparkling Vodka and the 945 Super Premium Sparkling Vodka. Both versions carry nice light citrus notes and those wonderful champagne-like bubbles to the palate. These bubbles are supposed to stimulate the taste buds accentuating the flavours of food the vodka is served with, and the flavours of the cocktails the vodka is served in.

I invited several of my good friends over for a Vodka Tasting where we put the O2 (945 Super Premium) Sparkling Vodka through the rigors of my review methodolgy.  Here is an excerpt from what we discovered:

“…The first sip brought forward a stronger citrus presence which one of my friends at the tasting likened to a spear’s thrust of citrus zest. The carbonated bubbles seem to be bringing forward much more of the citrus flavours of the vodka…”

You may read the full review here:

Review: O2 945 (Super Premium) Sparkling Vodka

As well I have included a nice cocktail with the review, Rustic Soul.

Please enjoy the review and the cocktail!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Vodka, Vodka Reviews | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: O2 945 (Super Premium) Sparkling Vodka

Review: Old Sam Demerara Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on August 25, 2011

The original recipe for Old Sam Demerara Rum stretches back to 1797 when Edward Young & Co. (from London & Liverpool, England) imported their rum from the Caribbean (primarily from Guyana) and brought the first barrels marked ‘Old Sam’ to London, England. Today the rum no longer travels to England to be blended and bottled, rather it travels to Newfoundland where it is blended and bottled by the Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation (NLC). The entire blend hails from Guyana, and I have been informed that the age of these rums in the blend is no younger than 2 years old. In fact some of the rum in the blend may be as old as 12 years, but as the rum is blended to a specific taste profile, the oldest rum in the blend may change from batch to batch. I was given a sample of the Old Sam Demerara Rum by Greg Kerr of the NLC for the purpose of my review.

Here is an Excerpt from that review:

“…The taste of molasses, candied caramel and orange peel leads out into the mouth but these flavours are soon accompanied by tobacco and musty leather. I also taste a dry fruity flavour which reminds me of raisins and prunes with perhaps a few figs and dates thrown in for good measure…”

You may read the full review here:

Review: Old Sam Demerara Rum

I have included a nice recipe which I call the Maritime Mai Tai.

Please enjoy my review!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | 9 Comments »

Movies and Cocktails: Part 1

Posted by Arctic Wolf on August 24, 2011

I found myself watching an old western on the television a few weeks ago on one of those rare days when the movie suited my mood perfectly. Of course, I wanted a drink, but not just a drink…. I wanted a drink that suited the mood I was in and the movie I was watching. I settled on a dusty Canadian Rye Whisky and settled down to watch my movie.

Afterwards I began to think about why I wanted a particular drink for that particular movie, and I realized that this actually happens to me quite often.  For me movies are a ‘mood’ experience. I have to be in a certain mood to watch certain movies. Certain moods call for certain styles of drinks. So I began to put together a list of my favourite movies and thought about what I would like to drink while watching. I analyzed each movie briefly before selecting the appropriate cocktail for each.  I came up with this list:

Some of my Favourite Movies (And What to Drink When Watching Them)

This is just Part 1, next month or thereabouts I will post Part 2 with five more movies.

Cheers!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Extras, Gin, Rum, Whisk(e)y | Tagged: , | Comments Off on Movies and Cocktails: Part 1

Review: Canadian Club Reserve Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on August 21, 2011

Canadian Club Whisky is the oldest and probably the most influential brand of Canadian Whisky in the world. It can be found in over 150 countries and boasts sales in Canada that are unmatched by any other premium whisky brand. Its popularity spiked during the days of Prohibition when Canadian Club was the whisky of choice for smugglers and whiskey runners, and it has even been reported that Canadian Club was the whisky of choice for Al Capone who is said to have smuggled thousands of cases of Canadian Whisky into the USA .

The Canadian Club Reserve is a step up from the previously reviewed Canadian Club Premium. Still ‘Blended at Birth’, the whisky is a mixture of rye, rye malt, corn and barley spirits.  Although separately distilled, these spirits are blended before being placed in white oak barrels where the blend ages for a minimum of 10 years.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“…In the air, a light toffee has developed which has that same almond taint I noticed in the younger Canadian Club whisky. Dank tones of corn and tobacco are present as well as a light smokiness which hints at baked apples. A dusty rye and light oak spices weave in and out of the aroma which is noticeably more complex than the Canadian Club Premium…”

Here is a link to my full Review:

Review: Canadian Club Reserve Whisky

I have included a nice cocktail with the review called the Woodcutter. I hope you enjoy the review and the cocktail.

Cheers!

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

Review: Don Julio Blanco Tequila

Posted by Arctic Wolf on August 16, 2011

Photo courtesy forrest

Don Julio Blanco Tequila is a 100% Blue Weber Agave Tequila made from agave grown in the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico. As a highland tequila,we can expect the Don Julio to exhibit strong fruity citrus notes and to have a little hot pepper in the finish. The company was established by Don Julio González, who apparently began to examine the prospect of making his own Tequila in 1942. He established his distillery called, La Primavera, and spent nearly forty years refining his Tequila into the spirit which now bears his name.

I first encountered Don Julio Blanco at the May 5 (Cinco de Mayo) Tequila Tasting at Aligra Wine and Spirits in Edmonton. I enjoyed the crisp taste and decided that this was a bottle I would not mind acquiring and reviewing on my website.

Here is an Excerpt from my review:

“…Soft peppery notes come forward out of the glass, followed by lemon and lime citrus juices. Muted fruity agave and a hint of  vanilla waft into the air as well providing just a little more softness and I must admit the aroma has made me eager to begin to taste the spirit…”

You may read the full review here:

Review: Don Julio Blanco Tequila

As well please enjoy the Traditional Margarita cocktail recipe I provided at the end of the review.

Cheers!

Posted in Blanco Tequila, Cocktails & Recipes, Tequila, Tequila Review | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Don Julio Blanco Tequila

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