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Archive for the ‘Extras’ Category

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The 2018 Rum Howler Awards for Vodka

Posted by Arctic Wolf on January 17, 2018

I have written before that I believe Vodka is the most maligned of the popular mainstream spirits. It is considered by many people to be a colourless, odourless, and tasteless spirit. In fact, many people believe the only utility Vodka possesses is that of a mixer.

This simply is not true. There are subtle aromas and flavours which can be appreciated when Vodka is sipped or when it is consumed as a shot. As well, when served with good food, a quality vodka has the ability to enhance the gastronomic experience by cleansing the palate between bites allowing you to taste each morsel more completely.

When I review Vodka on my website, I try very hard to convey my appreciation of these subtle nuances and the pleasure I derive when I encounter them.

Ketel One Vodka Martini

This year, I added a new Craft Distilling category to my Vodka Awards. This is in recognition of the efforts of the new Craft Micro Distilleries which have spread across the continent. These small distilleries are bringing about a change in the culture of consumers who are beginning to embrace the small batch spirits these distillers provide. Micro distilling is now more than a trend, it has become a permanent fixture in the landscape of spirits worldwide.

As is the case each year, all of my Rum Howler Awards are based upon my tastings and reviews of each vodka. I taste the spirit neat, and I may also mix a few cocktails with each spirit. All samples which I receive to review on my website are automatically considered for my awards for the year in which they are reviewed as well as the following year. I do my reviews, and then I set aside the remainder of the spirit aside until the end of the year when I reassess for the purposes of determining my award winners. As indicated, I also include those samples which were provided in the previous year so as to have a larger field to judge. (I may also receive additional industry samples specifically for these awards.)

Here is a link to my 2018 Award Winners:

The 2018 Rum Howler Awards – The Year in Vodka

Chimo!

Posted in Awards, Extras, Vodka | Tagged: , , | Comments Off on The 2018 Rum Howler Awards for Vodka

The 2018 RumHowler Awards for Gin

Posted by Arctic Wolf on January 11, 2018

Beginning in 2016, I began to seek out and review as many juniper based spirits as I could get my hands on. It would be true in fact, to state that in the past two years, I have been as likely to be found enjoying a nice gin cocktail as I would have been found to enjoying a nice sip of Rum or Whisky. I have learned two important things in my gin journey. The first is that gin is much more complicated than I first suspected with several divergent styles of gin being produced. The second important thing I have come to realize, is that of those styles, my preference leans towards traditional London Dry Gin with juniper at the heart of the spirit’s flavour profile.

Sentimental Bloom

That is not to say that I cannot appreciate a more floral style; but in my opinion, floral botanicals within the spirit’s construct should serve the purpose of enhancing and elevating the juniper rather than ambushing or hiding it. This means that I am sort of at odds with the current trend in North America where many of the new producers are seeking a gin with a broader botanical base, and with new flavours which serve to propel the spirit forward. The spirit which is being produced often doesn’t taste like my idea of gin at all.

As one producer even confided in me,

“I don’t really like gin, so I have made a gin that doesn’t taste like gin.”

That statement caught me off guard, but it certainly explained a lot regarding my gin experiences of the past few years.

My 2018 Rum Howler Awards for Gin are of course based upon my enjoyment, not the enjoyment of others. This means that my award winners are a celebration of the juniper berry above all other botanicals. That does not mean that floral spirits have been ignored, it just means that those floral spirits which have garnered awards, were first and foremost spirits of the cypress berry genus Juniperous.

Here is a link to my Awards page:

The 2018 Rum Howler Awards – The Year in Gin

Stay tuned for more of my Award Winners in the days to come!

Chimo!

Posted in Awards, Extras | Tagged: , , | 1 Comment »

The 2018 RumHowler Awards for Tequila

Posted by Arctic Wolf on January 9, 2018

Tequila has been a part of my website almost since the beginning. When I first made the decision to write about the Mexican spirit, it was with some trepidation. You see, I wasn’t familiar with agave, and I wasn’t sure whether I would be able to write a meaningful review. However, my website is about exploration and discovery, and I felt that it would be a growth experience to push myself in directions I had never trod.

One thing I discovered quite quickly, was that Tequila had much more to offer than I originally anticipated. The agave plant (more specifically its cooked and fermented juice) brings rich flavours though the distillation and unlike whisky, it is the agave rather than flavours drawn from an oak barrel which is at the centerpiece of the spirit’s character. My first reviews were cautious, but by focusing my discussion upon the my enjoyment of the spirit, my reviews found favour not only among Tequila novices like myself, but also among many seasoned agave enthusiasts.

Tequila Old Fashioned

I have learned a lot in the last eight years as my understanding of the Mexican Spirit has grown. So this year I plan to re-boot my Tequila Reviews section revisiting many of my early reviews with new tasting notes and new scores for each spirit. That doesn’t mean I will ignore new agave spirits which come my way, in fact I hope to expand the tequila section at the same time. I hope everyone sticks around for the ride.

Last year was a good year for the Tequila, and if you are starting your own home bar, a great place to begin will be with my Rum Howler Award Winners for 2018.

Here is a link to my Awards Page for the Agave Spirit:

The 2018 Rum Howler Awards – The Year in Tequila

Stay tuned for the rest of my Award Winners in the days to come!

Chimo!

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2018 Edmonton Whisky Festival

Posted by Arctic Wolf on January 1, 2018

2018 Edmonton Whisky Festival

Once again the folks at Vines Riverbend Wine Merchants have teamed up with the Alberta Division of the MS Society to bring you Edmonton’s Premier Whisky Festival. This is a great opportunity to taste different whiskies from around the world as well as to meet and discuss the grain-based spirit with industry insiders and distillery representatives. Monies raised at the event will help those affected by MS in our community, as well as help to fund research towards a cure.

Where: Edmonton Delta South Hotel

When: Wednesday, January 17, 2018 (7:00 – 10:00pm)

For ticket information please contact:  Edmonton Whisky Festival Website

The 2018 Edmonton Whisky Festival is a must for any whisky enthusiast and for those new to the exciting world of whisky. Please attend and enjoy yourself chatting in a relaxed atmosphere with whisky and scotch principals and enthusiasts from across Canada and around the world (The Rum Howler will be there too).

The always popular whisky Master Classes are brought to you by some of the whisky world’s most prominent luminaries. They begin at 6:30pm (and cost an additional $25 on top of your Festival ticket cost).

Master Class Options

Glenmorangie Master Class in the Fort McMurray Room (20 tickets available)

Bourbon Master Class with Matt Jones in the Banff Room (18 tickets available)

Tomatin Master Class with Scott Fraser in the Lake Louise Room (18 tickets available)

Invergordon Distilleries Master Class with Lukasz Dynowiak in the Jasper Room (20 tickets available)

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I order Edmonton Whisky Festival tickets?

Tickets are available through the Edmonton Whisky Festival website: (purchase online here)

How much do tickets to Edmonton Whisky Festival cost?

VIP Hour Tickets $175 (100 tickets available)
Regular Admission Tickets $90
Regular Admission + Masterclass $115 (limited spaces)

What do I get for the price of a regular admission ticket?

You’ll receive a commemorative Glencairn whisky glass, an event program , a gourmet buffet throughout the evening and, of course, over 175 whiskies to sample plus a chance to win a bottle of whisky a month for a year and a chance to bid on a number of whisky themed silent auction items. If that wasn’t enough there is also music and Irish dancers!

What’s the difference between a Regular admission ticket and a VIP ticket?

In addition to what Regular admission ticket holders receive (above), VIP ticket holders gain admission to the ballroom a full hour prior to regular admission 6.00 – 7.00 P.M and each VIP attendee will also receive a goodie bag. With limited ticketing, and the extra hour of time in the ballroom, you can get the most out of this additional hour, having more time to talk with the distillery representatives. Some exhibitors will pour something extra special that’s available only during the VIP hour. These VIP hour whiskies are provided at the discretion of the distillers in extremely limited quantities, and as such, we cannot guarantee that every VIP whisky will be available to all VIP attendees. There are 100 VIP tickets available.

Are tickets available at the door?

Tickets are available at the door, if any are remaining. It is strongly advised that you order your tickets in advance.

What is a Masterclass?

As part of a small group of 20-25 people you will have the opportunity to sit down in a break out room on the first floor and focus on a number of whiskies from one particular distillery or listen to an expert on a particular genre within the world of whisky. All classes run from 6.30 – 7.30 P.M. Tickets available on November 1, 2017.

When is the “Whisky a Month for a Year” draw?

“Whisky a Month for a Year” draw will be a live draw on the evening of the Whisky Festival. Winner must be in the room.

Should I have a game plan?

Absolutely! Take a minute to study your program and decide which whiskies of the 175 being shown you have to try. You can only seriously taste and analyze a few before palate fatigue sets in. The key to surviving any event involving alcoholic spirits is not to over indulge, practice quality over quantity. You can help yourself by drinking lots of water during the tasting and having a solid meal before the event.

Should I wear perfume/after shave?

One of the joys of any whisky event is nosing whisky in the glass to identify the subtle and delicate aromas. These delicate aromas can be completely over powered by perfume, cologne and after shave worn on your own person or even by somebody else some distance away. Please refrain from wearing any scent for the duration of the Festival and advise your guests accordingly.

Is there parking at the hotel?

The hotel does have free parking available however, we encourage the use of public transportation and cabs. Better yet, stay at the Delta Edmonton South for the night.

Can I get a preferred rate to stay at the Delta?

Yes – Stay at the Delta Edmonton South for the night for a reduce rate on a room, tell them you’re attending the “Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada – 2018 Whisky Festival” Make reservations at:
Phone: 780-434-6415
Fax: 780-436-9247
Reservations: 888-890-3222

What should I wear to WhiskyFest?

Most commonly, business or business casual attire. Please feel free to wear a kilt if you have one or rent one from our friends at Scottish Imports!

Do I need to bring a glass with me?

There’s no need to bring a glass with you. A Glencairn crystal commemorative nosing glass will be provided to you at registration. It’s yours to use for the evening, and to take home with you.

What if I lose my nosing glass?

If you lose your nosing glass, we’ll have wine glasses available in the Grand ballroom. Sorry, we cannot replace any lost or broken nosing glass.

There’s a whisky on the list that I want to be sure to try. How can I find out which booth is pouring it?

The booklet you receive on entering is set out alphabetically by the local agent / importer responsible for that distillery. The tables in the ballroom follow that list in a clockwise direction. Each table is marked with the name of an agent / importer.

Do I need to purchase drink tickets to be able to taste the whisky I want to try?

Through the purchase of your General Admission ticket, you will receive 30 sampling tickets. For each sample that you take, you will give the vendor one sampling ticket. If you go through all 30 sampling tickets, you can purchase more at the rate of 1 ticket for $2.75 (as per AGLC regulations).

Should I keep my ticket stub?

Absolutely! Bring your stub into Vines Wine Merchants by the end of April 2018 to receive a 10% discount or $10 off, whichever is the better deal on a whisky purchase.

Is there a coat check available?

There is a coat check available at the event for a small donation. All donations will go to the MS Society.

May I bring my briefcase with me?

Backpacks, briefcases, tote bags, or any other such items, are not permitted inside of EWF. You will be asked to leave them at the coat check.

Will there be food available?

Food is provided throughout the evening, including beef on a bun and haggis sausage rolls.

When I discover a new whisky that I love at EWF, can I buy a bottle of it right there?

EWF is a tasting event only. Order forms will be available at each table for the whisky(s) that agent is presenting. Customers can fill them in there and then with their name and phone number and Vines Wines will order them for you the following week. Please note: your ticket stub (when presented at Vines Wines before the end of April 2018) entitles you to a 10% discount or $10 off (whichever is better) your whisky purchase.

I have a suggestion on how to improve the event. Who do I contact?

You may contact the event manager, Steve Richmond by emailing info@vineswinemerchants.com.

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Posted in Festivals | Comments Off on 2018 Edmonton Whisky Festival

#Top100CanadianWhisky #1: Canadian Rockies 21 Year Old

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 23, 2017

Five years ago, I encountered Canadian Rockies 21 Year Old Whisky as a random sample in the group of 45 such samples which I was assessing as part of my duties when I served on the jury for the 2012 Canadian Whisky Awards. Whenever I participate as a spirits judge I always make note of any of the samples which strike me as being particularly good, and the small sample bottle which contained the Canadian Rockies 21 Year Old Whisky was one which I had earmarked as a superior whisky. So, when the Awards Competition was complete, it was to my dismay that I learned this particular whisky (Random Sample number 7 by the way) was a brand destined not for Canada; but instead for Taiwan.

Fortunately Canadian Rockies 21 Year Old is now a standard bottling available in Canadian markets as well. According to the information provided me, the spirit is (as it was before) distilled and aged by Highwood Distillers. It is a 100% corn whisky bottled at 46% alcohol by volume.

In a year which saw the best field of Canadian Whiskies ever produced, Canadian Rockies 21 Year Old stood out as the best. Here is a link to the Rum Howler #1 Canadian Whisky in my list of the 100 Best of 2017:

Review: J.P. Canadian Rockies 21 Year Old

“… This is a full-bodied whisky (rare for a Canadian) with a long satisfying finish. Sweet butterscotch and corn flavours are chased down by oak and cedar spices which leave a lightly bitter echo in the throat. The palate is left glowing with little bursts of cinnamon and orange peel, and then a soothing almost menthol-like sweetness appears leaving me little choice but to pour another dram …”

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We have reached the best whisky in my 2017 countdown of Canada’s top 100. Just to make sure I got it right, I re-tasted each of the top 5 spirits side by side to determine my final scores and rankings.

You can view the entire list by viewing my Reveal Page here on this website:

The Rum Howler – Top 100 Canadian Whiskies of 2017

I hope everyone enjoyed the Countdown!

Merry Christmas!

Posted in Awards, Canadian Whisky, Extras, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review, Whisky Review | Tagged: , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

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