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Archive for the ‘Extras’ Category

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#Top100Rums of 2017 – #45 Rum Nation Panama 18 Years

Posted by Arctic Wolf on November 6, 2017

Panamanian rum from the Valera Hermanos Distillery has been bottled by Rum Nation since 1999. The 18-year-old rum from Panama is acquired in bulk from Valera Hermanos and shipped overseas to Italy for labeling and bottling. After the successful introduction of this bottling 17 years ago, the company has continued to purchase bulk rum from Panama with an annual production of roughly 6,000 bottles per year.

Here is a link to my revised review based upon a recent tasting:

Review: Rum Nation Panama 18 Years

“… The rum leads out with flavours of caramel, vanilla and rough oak. The oak flavours are spicy, and I taste white pepper, cinnamon and cloves all wandering through the flavour currents of the rum …”

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To follow the countdown list on a daily basis, you should follow me on twitter (Rum Howler on Twitter) using the hashtag #Top100Rums.

Alternatively you can view the list as it grows by viewing my Reveal Page:

The Rum Howler – Top 100 Rums of 2017

The Reveal Page will be updated at least weekly through September, October and November and then daily in December.

Posted in Awards, Extras, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on #Top100Rums of 2017 – #45 Rum Nation Panama 18 Years

#49 Rum of 2017: El Dorado 3 Year Cask Aged Rum (#Top100Rums)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on November 2, 2017

The Diamond Distillery sits on the East Bank of the Demerara River near Georgetown, Guyana. The Distillery, originally attached to the now closed Diamond Sugar Estate, is home to Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL).

The El Dorado 3 Year Cask Aged Demerara Rum is blended from aged stocks (the youngest being no less than 3 years old) and then filtered twice through charcoal filters to produce a clear rum. All of the Demerara Rum produced by El Dorado is aged exclusively in American oak (45 gallon bourbon barrels).

Here is a link to the # 49 Rum of 2017:

Review:  El Dorado 3 Year Cask Aged Demerara Rum

“… The rum has a pleasant soft texture with light oil-like mouth-feel. There is no bitterness, and the soft butterscotch/caramel flavours remain firm through the palate accented with light minty candy-like flavours. There is also a light spiciness which hints at citrus zest and banana peel. As I sip I also begin to sense very light undercurrents of dry fruit, chocolate and a light but firm impression of baked coconut …”

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To follow the countdown list on a daily basis, you should follow me on twitter (Rum Howler on Twitter) using the hashtag #Top100Rums.

Alternatively you can view the list as it grows by viewing my Reveal Page:

The Rum Howler – Top 100 Rums of 2017

The Reveal Page will be updated at least weekly through September, October and November and then daily in December.

Posted in Awards, Extras, Rum, Rum Reviews, White Rums | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on #49 Rum of 2017: El Dorado 3 Year Cask Aged Rum (#Top100Rums)

#Top100CanadianWhiskies – #52 Collingwood Toasted Maplewood

Posted by Arctic Wolf on November 2, 2017

Collingwood Toasted Maplewood Finish is produced at the Canadian Mist Distillery in Collingwood Ontario.This is of course the Distillery which produces its namesake brand, Canadian Mist, which is one of the best-selling Canadian Whiskies in North America. Most of those sales are in the USA where over 4 million cases of Canadian Mist are consumed annually.

This is a premium brand which is positioned a little higher on the rungs of the whisky ladder so to speak. However, it would be wrong to think of Collingwood as a more mature or refined Canadian Mist. It is produced from its own recipe and finished in a manner which gives the spirit a unique twist. Once the whisky is mature and has been blended, it is left in stainless marrying vats where its flavour is enhanced with staves of maple which have also been added to those vats. This process is unique as far as Canadian Whisky goes, and promises to bring a new flavour component into the landscape of Canadian Whisky

Here is a link to the #52 Canadian Whisky of 2017:

Review: Collingwood Toasted Maplewood Finish Canadian Whisky

“… The spirit begins its traverse through the mouth with initial flavours of butterscotch toffee and sour fermented fruit. There is a nice spicy rye flavour rolling through which is chased across the palate by flavours of corn and dark spicy tobacco and licorice …”

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Note: As indicated earlier, I will not be creating a posting for every whisky in my countdown on this website; but I am going to try to highlight every Canadian spirit that I have not reviewed previously.

To follow the countdown list on a daily basis, you should follow me on twitter (Rum Howler on Twitter) using the hashtag #Top100CanadianWhisky. Alternatively you can view the  list as it grows by viewing my Reveal Page:

The Rum Howler – Top 100 Canadian Whiskies of 2017

The Reveal Page will be updated at least weekly through September, October and November and then daily in December.

Posted in Awards, Canadian Whisky, Extras, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review, Whisky Review | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Comments Off on #Top100CanadianWhiskies – #52 Collingwood Toasted Maplewood

#52 Rum of 2017: Bacardi Gran Reserva 8 Años Rum (#Top100Rums)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on October 30, 2017

In 1862, Facundo Bacardi and his brother José bought the Santiago de Cuba Distillery and began to distill what would become the most popular commercial rum in the world. Using a method of charcoal filtering, and oak barrel aging  along with a still of copper and cast iron, Facundo Bacardi created a smoother more refined version of the locally made rum. His smoother version of the spirit became local favourite, and over time, an international sensation. Of course, Bacardi Rum is not made in Cuba anymore, the Ron Bacardi Company left Cuba in the wake of Fidel Castro’s plans to nationalize all private property and privately held bank accounts on the Island. The Bacardi family moved important trademarks out of Cuba, and using a Bacardi owned plant built in Puerto Rico, were able to continue to build their company. Bacardi is now the largest family owned spirits company in the world.

The Bacardi Gran Reserva 8 Años Rum is  produced using column still distillation and oak barrel aging. This rum has been aged for a full 8 years in ‘hand selected’ oak barrels. According to various sources, at least part of the rum was aged or perhaps finished in sherry oak barrels.

Here is a link to the number 52 Rum of 2017:

Review: Bacardi Gran Reserva 8 Años Rum 

“… There is also a slightly heavy, slightly smoky presence which stems perhaps from a sherry influence from at least some of the finishing barrels. This smokiness helps to blend and carry the other flavours. I taste hints of raisins, dates, and dried plums …”

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To follow the countdown list on a daily basis, you should follow me on twitter (Rum Howler on Twitter) using the hashtag #Top100Rums.

Alternatively you can view the list as it grows by viewing my Reveal Page:

The Rum Howler – Top 100 Rums of 2017

The Reveal Page will be updated at least weekly through September, October and November and then daily in December.

Posted in Awards, Extras, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , , | Comments Off on #52 Rum of 2017: Bacardi Gran Reserva 8 Años Rum (#Top100Rums)

#Top100CanadianWhiskies – #55 Stalk and Barrel Red Blend

Posted by Arctic Wolf on October 30, 2017

Barry Bernstein and Barry Stein own and run the Still Water Distillery, Ontario’s first micro-distillery which they founded in 2009. They not only manage the distillation and the blending of the Still Waters’ products, they also act as the distillery’s Chief Bottle Washers and Bottle Fillers. In fact, there is not a single aspect of their business that they do not either personally oversee or do themselves.

According to the producer’s website Stalk and Barrel Rye is:

” … created by using a high percentage of our aged single malt and rye, blended together with selected casks of aged corn. This extraordinarily smooth yet complex mix of sweet malt and plump Canadian rye is imbued with intense flavours, richness, and full body.”

Here is a link to the full review:

Review: Stalk and Barrel Red Blend

“… full of wood and dusty rye spices with grain building in the background. It really is quite nice. Soon vanilla rises out of the glass followed by wisps of butterscotch and maple. There is a light maltiness that comes through more clearly as the glass breathes and light indications of marmalade and almond …”

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Note: As indicated earlier, I will not be creating a posting for every whisky in my countdown on this website; but I am going to try to highlight every Canadian spirit that I have not reviewed previously.

To follow the countdown list on a daily basis, you should follow me on twitter (Rum Howler on Twitter) using the hashtag #Top100CanadianWhisky. Alternatively you can view the  list as it grows by viewing my Reveal Page:

The Rum Howler – Top 100 Canadian Whiskies of 2017

The Reveal Page will be updated at least weekly through September, October and November and then daily in December.

Posted in Awards, Canadian Whisky, Extras, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review, Whisky Review | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Comments Off on #Top100CanadianWhiskies – #55 Stalk and Barrel Red Blend

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