The Rum Howler Blog

(A Website for Spirited Reviews)

  • Copyright

    Copyright is inherent when an original work is created. This means that the producer of original work is automatically granted copyright protection. This copyright protection not only exists in North America, but extends to other countries as well. Thus, all of the work produced on this blog is protected by copyright, including all of the pictures and all of the articles. These original works may not be copied or reused in any way whatsoever without the permission of the author, Chip Dykstra.

  • Cocktails and Recipes

    Click Image for Awesome Recipes

  • Industry Interviews

    Interviews

    Click the Image for Great Interviews with the Movers of Industry

  • The Rum Howler Interview (Good Food Revolution)

    Click on the Image to see my interview on Good Food Revolution

  • The Rum Howler Blog

    Unknown's avatar

  • Rum Reviews

  • Whisky Reviews

  • Gin Reviews

  • Tequila Reviews

  • Vodka Reviews

  • Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

    Join 1,090 other subscribers

  • Subscribe

  • Visitors

    • 15,513,374 pageviews since inception

  • Archives

  • Follow The Rum Howler Blog on WordPress.com

Archive for the ‘Gin’ Category

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »

Cocktail Hour: The Nottingham Walrus and Ungava Gin

Posted by Arctic Wolf on July 30, 2018

North of the Ungava Peninsula (in Northern Quebec) within the body of water known as the Hudson Strait is an arctic island which was given the name, Nottingham Island, by English explorer Henry Hudson when he was exploring what was to become the Canadian North in the 1600s. The island was used for hunting and fishing by the surrounding Inuit communities, and it is known to harbour a large number of walrus during the summer months. The island and its summer inhabitants serve as the inspiration for the name of my cocktail which uses a Canadian Gin which was also inspired by the rugged Canadian North, Ungava Gin.

Nottingham Walrus.SAM_1086Nottingham Walrus

2 oz Ungava Canadian Premium Gin
1 oz Orange Juice
1/2 oz Lemon juice
3/8 oz sugar syrup
ice
Cucumber

Peel and Slice a 4 to 5 inch length of cucumber lengthwise
Add one length of cucumber and a few ice-cubes to a suitable rocks glass
Shake the gin, juice and the sugar syrup over ice in a metal shaker
Strain into the rocks glass over the ice and cucumber
Stir once or twice with the cucumber and serve

Please Indulge in my cocktail suggestions responsibly!

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Note:

Here is a link to my recently revised review of Ungava Gin:

Review: Ungava Gin

“… The flavour of the Ungava Gin represents a nice melding of piny bitterness and herbaceous spiciness with lemon citrus. The floral elements within serve more as an accent than as a main attraction. I found myself drawn to the complex flavour profile which was moderately aggressive and perhaps more traditional than I expected …”

Please enjoy my review and cocktail.

Chimo!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Gin, Gin Review | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Cocktail Hour: The Nottingham Walrus and Ungava Gin

Review: Triple Beam Gin (North of 7 Distillery)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 10, 2018

Greg Lipin and Jody Miall are both avid rock climbers who regularly travel to Kentucky on climbing trips. It was on one of these trips that the two friends developed a passion for ‘brown spirits’ which ultimately led them to opening their own Micro-distillery (North of 7) in Ottawa, Ontario. They currently produce several styles of Canadian Whisky, their Leatherback Dark Rum (sold at 40 % abv. and at 57 % abv.) Triple Beam Gin and Illuminati Vodka.

The subject of this review is the Distillery’s Triple Beam Gin. According to the folks at North of 7:

Triple Beam Gin is made with eleven carefully selected botanicals that are precisely measured on our triple beam scale. We strive to use local ingredients wherever possible, and use juniper berries sourced from Ferme et Foret in Wakefield, Quebec. Vapour infused in 50 L batches, our gin offers a classic dry taste that can be enjoyed in all your favourite gin drinks – martinis, G&T’s, Tom Collins, and even straight up.

During my review, I will be testing that claim as I sample the Triple Beam gin in those classic cocktails as well as sipping the spirit neat and/or on the rocks.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Triple Beam Gin (North of 7 Distillery)

“… Although the juniper is dominant (as it should be); the breezes above the glass also bring other light nuances forward. I sense wisps of licorice and angelica which bring a light earthy quality to the breezes. This is joined by mild impressions of citrus zest (lime) and lightly lemony smells. A beguiling floral component is present which reminds me of a very lightly scented potpourri …”

Please enjoy my review which concludes with a nice cocktail suggestion, the Cara Cara Cocktail.

Chimo!

 

Posted in Gin, Gin Review | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on Review: Triple Beam Gin (North of 7 Distillery)

Review: Park Distillery Alpine Dry Gin

Posted by Arctic Wolf on March 25, 2018

Park Distillery  is located in the town of Banff, Alberta. The facility is not just a distillery, it is also a Restaurant and bar which opened in May of 2015 shortly after the Provincial government introduced new regulations which allowed for Craft distilleries to operate. Located high in the Mountains of Banff Provincial Park, the Distillery proudly serves regionally produced food in its restaurant, and local (sourced from high-altitude family farms in the Alberta foothills) grains to produce their spirits.

Park Distillery Alpine Gin is produced on the distillery’s 600 Litre Kothe Pot – Twin Column Hybrid Still. It is produced from typical London Dry Gin botanical’s ( Juniper, Coriander, Lemon Peel, Orange Peel, Orris Root, Licorice, Angelica, and Cinnamon) with the addition of Alberta foraged Engelmann Spruce Tips.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Park Distillery Alpine Dry Gin

“… Within the juniper scent is a light presence of licorice and bright citrus (in particular orange and lemon peel). I notice impressions of coriander and surprisingly a touch of ginger in the breezes (I suspect the ginger is in reality a touch of cinnamon which is expressing itself as ginger because of the presences ot the other botanicals) …”

Please enjoy my review which includes my cocktail suggestion, the Northern Lady.

Chimo!

 

Posted in Gin, Gin Review | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on Review: Park Distillery Alpine Dry Gin

Review: Granny’s Gin (Last Mountain Distillery)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 7, 2018

Colin Schmidt was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in 1992. After being drafted, he spent four years playing College Hockey and then signed his first pro contract in 1996. Colin’s pro experience was brief, cut off by a few shoulder injuries after a short spell of what Colin referred to as “playing left bench.” Fortunately, as far as we are concerned, Colin’s story did not end there.

A few years later, Colin, who was working in the mortgage industry, and his wife, Meredith, whose background was in banking, began to look for their own business opportunities in Saskatchewan. Colin had a friend who had started up a micro-distillery in Colorado, and the idea to begin a similar operation in Saskatchewan was very appealing to them. In August of 2010, Colin and Meredith’s hard work and perseverance paid off when they opened Saskatchewan’s first micro-distillery, in Lumsden, Saskatchewan, called the Last Mountain Distillery.

Granny’s Gin pays homage to Colin’s grandmother, Muriel who came to Canada back in 1946 as a war bride from England and has been known to enjoy a Gin and Soda. Since Colin began to distill spirits at Last Mountain Distillery, his Granny has been asking for a nice dry gin to enjoy, one that is ‘not too florally’ which is how his Granny like to enjoy it.

Here is a link to my first Gin Review of 2018:

Review: Granny’s Gin (Last Mountain Distillery)

“… The initial aroma from the glass is very nice, representing a traditional juniper forward dry gin. Along with the juniper is a mild but firm presence of licorice and citrus zest (in particular orange and grapefruit). Light lemony scents rises up alongside impressions of spicy coriander and cardamom. Perhaps there is a hint of mint in the breezes,as well as a light ribbon of orange Curacao …”

Please enjoy my review which includes a nice cocktail recommendation, the Sentimental Lady.

Chimo!

Posted in Gin, Gin Review | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Granny’s Gin (Last Mountain Distillery)

Review: Aviation Gin

Posted by Arctic Wolf on August 14, 2017

Aviation North

Aviation Gin is produced by House Spirits in the Pacific Northwest (Oregon). According to the company website, Aviation was the result of a collaboration between House Spirits and American Bartender, Ryan Magarian, and many consider this spirit to be the gin which launched the American Gin style.

For those unfamiliar with what is termed American Gin, it is a style which tempers the flavour of the juniper berry (and citrus to some extent) in favour of bringing forward a more floral style of gin. That is not to say that juniper is absent among the botanicals which help to infuse their flavour into the spirit, it is just that the juniper is held in check to allow the other botanicals, (in this case: cardamom, lavender, sarsaparilla, coriander, anise and orange peel) more expression.

Here is a link to my latest Gin Review:

Review: Aviation Gin

“… The piny aroma is not as forceful as a typical London Dry Gin, as juniper lies beside rather than ahead of the coriander and cardamom with lavender pushing through quite clearly as well. There are hints of lemon, licorice (anise) and mint and if you wait for it, orange peel climbs out of the glass to join in the menagerie of scents and smells …”

Please enjoy the review which includes my cocktail suggestion, Aviation North.

Chimo!

Posted in Gin, Gin Review | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on Review: Aviation Gin

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »