Archive for the ‘Extras’ Category
Posted by Arctic Wolf on November 27, 2013
Rum continues to be a spirit on the rise. There was a time not long ago that when I stopped by a local store to buy a bottle of rum, I had really only two or three choices, and they were all named Bacardi. Now it is not uncommon for me to see up to twenty different rum brands even in the small liquor stores, and some of the large stores will have as many as 50 different brands to choose from. When I talk to the local merchants, they all tell a similar story, more and more people are asking for rum and some of them even come into the stores brandishing my reviews as ammunition.
My Rum Howler Awards are published each year. They represent my yearly proclamations regarding the best rums which I have tasted within that particular year. As is the case each year, all of my Awards are based upon side by side tastings within each category of spirit. I taste the spirit neat, and I also mix a few cocktails. Sometimes I have my friends help me. All rum samples which I receive to review on my website each year are automatically considered for the awards. I do my review, and then I set aside the remainder of the spirit for the end of the year judging. I also receive additional industry samples specifically for these awards.
My side by side tastings are completed, and it is time for me to reveal the recipients of my 2013 Rum Howler Awards for Excellence in the Production of Rum.
53.544389
-113.490927
Posted in Awards, Dark Rums, Extras, Flavouerd Rums, Overproof Rum, Rum, Rum Reviews, Spiced Rum, White Rums | Tagged: Aged Rum, Dark Rum, Flavoured Rum, Mixing Rum, Premium Rum, Rum, Rum Howler Awards, Spiced Rum, Super-Premium Rum, White Rum | 3 Comments »
Posted by Arctic Wolf on November 22, 2013
I tasted a lot of great whisky this year from all over the world, and I noticed a few trends which deserve noting. Whisky is growing in popularity throughout the world, and this is having consequences in both the variety of whisky available to the consumer, and the quality of the whisky available to the consumer. In terms of variety, things have never been better as I can find whiskies on the store shelves from places I would never have imagined a few years ago. The number of brands available from India and Japan keep growing, and as well brands from places like New Zealand, England, Wales, and Australia are also surfacing in my local liquor stores. A stronger selection of brands available to the consumer can only be good news; and hopefully consumers (and whisky critics) can put their prejudices aside and give these brands the chance they deserve.
However the flip side of this world-wide popularity of whisky is a disturbing reluctance from some of the major players to maintain their age statements. The simple fact is that there is just not enough aged whisky stocks to maintain the present brands due to the growing world-wide popularity of the spirit. Of course the marketing hype proclaims the spirits are as good as ever, but I guess I question the veracity of those statements. Time will tell, and thankfully there are still many brands maintaining their standards and many more great whiskies for me to discover.
It is time for my to make my yearly proclamations regarding the best whiskies which I have personally tasted in the year which is 2013. As is the case each year, all of my Rum Howler Awards are based upon side by side tastings within each category of spirit. I taste the spirit neat, and I also mix a few cocktails with each spirit. All spirit samples which I receive to review on my website are automatically considered for my awards. I do my review, and then I set aside the remainder of the spirit for the end of the year judging. I also receive additional industry samples specifically for these awards. My side by side tastings are completed, and it is time for me to reveal the recipients of my 2013 Rum Howler Awards for Excellence in the Production of Whisky.
These Awards are for the best Whisky Spirits I encountered in the year 2013!
53.544389
-113.490927
Posted in Awards, Extras, Whisk(e)y | Tagged: American Whiskey, Bourbon, Canadian Whisky, Rum Howler Awards, Scotch Whisky, Whisky, Whisky Reviews | Comments Off on The Year in Whisky (2013 Rum Howler Awards)
Posted by Arctic Wolf on November 17, 2013
I have been invited by the great guys (and gals) at UNWINED (Fine Wine, Spirits and Ales) in St. Albert to be the guest host for a Rum Event on Wednesday, November 27, 2013 appropriately named:
Tasting Rum Around the World with The Rum Howler
Presented By Chip Dykstra of The Rum Howler Blog
I think (although I admit I am biased because I selected the rums) that the line-up we will be tasting is solid as it represents a good cross-section of geographical styles of rum production. You can experience the wonderful flavour and diversity of rums from Central and South America, the Caribbean Islands, and as an added bonus a very unique rum from the Sub Continent of India. Capping the evening off will be the presentation and tasting of a very special rum 25-year-old spirit from Panama, the Panamonte Reserva XXV.
Here is the list of Rums I will be presenting:
Flor de Caña Centenario 12 Year Old (Nicaragua)
Appleton Estate Extra Old 12 Year Old (Jamaica)
Ron Millonario Solera 15 Reserva Especial (Peru)
Old Monk Very Old Vatted XXX 7 Year Old (India)
Panamonte Reserva XXV – 25 Year Old Rum (From Panama)
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The line-up includes some of my favourites! Please contact UNWINED for tickets which will be on sale soon for the low price of $25.00 each! (Wednesday, November 27 at 7:30 PM)
UNWINED – Fine Wine, Spirits and Ales
#2, 512 St. Albert Tr.
St. Albert, AB. T8N 5Z1
Phone: (780) 458-4777
Fax: 780.458.2777
Email: info@unwined.biz
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This is going to be a great event and I hope to see a few of my Edmonton readers there!
Posted in Extras, Rum | Tagged: Appleton Rum, Flor de Cana Rum, Old Monk, Panamonte Brands, Ron Millonario, Rum Tasting | Comments Off on Tasting Rum From Around the World with The Rum Howler
Posted by Arctic Wolf on November 12, 2013
The Rum Howler had another great year tasting Vodka in 2013 as it seems like producers from all over the world have been sending me samples for review upon my website. My quirky style of vodka review appears to have struck a chord with these producers, especially those in Eastern Europe who have told me that my willingness to bring the gastronomic experience into my review process is much appreciated. The willingness of foreign producers to send me samples in spite of the huge difficulties they can experience in dealing with Canadian Customs and Excise means that I had an unusually strong group pf spirits for this years Vodka Awards.
As is the case each year, all of my Rum Howler Awards are based upon side by side tastings within each category of spirit. I taste the spirit neat, and I also mix a few cocktails with each spirit. This year, with the very best spirits, I also compared each spirit with various food pairings in my efforts to determine the very best.
All spirit samples which I receive to review on my website are automatically considered for my awards. I do my review, and then I set aside the remainder of the spirit for the end of the year judging. I also receive additional industry samples specifically for these awards. The competition was particularly fierce this year, and it is time for me to reveal the recipients of my 2013 Rum Howler Awards for Excellence in the Production of Vodka.
These Awards are for the best Vodka Spirits I encountered in the year 2013!
53.544389
-113.490927
Posted in Awards, Extras, Flavoured Vodka, Vodka, Vodka Reviews | Tagged: Flavoured Vodka, Premium Vodka, Rum Howler Awards, Super Premium Vodka, Ultra premium Vodka, Vodka, Vodka Reviews | Comments Off on The Year in Vodka (2013 Rum Howler Awards)
Posted by Arctic Wolf on November 5, 2013
The Brugal Distillery was founded in 1888, by Andrés Brugal Montaner. Over the next one hundred and twenty years the company grew steadily, and it is now one of three large Rum Distillers in the Dominican Republic. The original family which founded Brugal is still in the control. George Arzeno Brugal, is the current chairman, and most of the board members are direct descendants of the original company founder. In fact, the Brugal Distillery has become an institution in the Dominican Republic. Just about every friend of mine who has visited this the Dominican Republic has a vivid tale to tell of their amazing bus ride to the distillery, and another tale to tell of how much fun it was to sample the Brugal Rum.
Brugal Titanium Rum is a triple distilled premium white rum produced primarily for the domestic market (and in parts of Europe) as a high-end cocktail spirit meant to compete with ultra premium Vodka. It is a pity that this rum is not widely available; based upon the tasting sessions my friends and I conducted this past August, it just might be the very best white rum in the world!
Here is a link to my newly published review:
“…The nose is lightly effervescent with a spiciness which reminds me of the lemon-like scent of coriander seeds and the rye-like scents of ginger and cardamom spice. A light sugar cane scent is evident, as well as hints of anise and licorice, light mushy banana smells and perhaps a touch of mint …”
This is a refined spirit filled with spicy character and suave refinement within the flavour nuances. Although this rum is not widely available, it is still a fact that the Brugal Titanium is one of the best white rums I have sampled to this point in my rum explorations!
PS: I included a brand new daiquiri style cocktail with my review, the Emissary Daiquiri!
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Note; You may follow my Countdown list of the 10 best white rums here: The Rum Howler 2013 – Top 10 White Rums
Posted in Awards, Extras, Rum, Rum Reviews, White Rums | Tagged: Brugal, Brugal Titanium, Cocktails, Dominican Rum, Emissary Daiquiri, Rum Howler Awards, Rum Review, Top 10 White Rum Countdown, White Rum | Comments Off on And then there was # 1 – Brugal Titanium Rum
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