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Archive for the ‘Rum’ Category

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Review: Ron Esclavo XO Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 12, 2020

Ron Esclavo XO is a premium rum produced in the Dominican Republic and distributed by 1423 World Class Spirits based in Denmark. According to the 1423 World Class Spirits website, Ron Esclavo Rums are produced by Alcoholes Finos Dominicanos who harvest their own sugarcane from within Dominica. Alcoholes Finos Dominicanos is the largest producer of alcohol in the Dominican Republic, and thereby the company plays a significant role in the Dominican community

The rums which make up the Ron Esclavo Blend were column distilled and were aged up to 15 years (some of the rums in the blend would be younger) in both American and French oak barrels.

Here is a Link to my Review:

Review: Ron Esclavo XO Rum

“… Oak spice, dark brown sugar and baking spices (vanilla, allspice and cinnamon). Lightly smokey with scents of dried fruits and raisins. Tobacco and a smidgen of brine and tar. Marzipan, apricots and crushed walnuts …”

Please enjoy the review.

Chimo!

 

 

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Review: Richland Classic Reserve Single Barrel Select Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 11, 2020

As I was sampling the rum selection of World Class Spirits 24 Days of Rum 2020 Advent Calendar I encountered a rum on day 11 which was labeled Richland Single Estate Georgian Rum. It was quite good, in fact it was really good, and so I went to the Richland Rum website to find out more about it. However, when I checked the website out, there were several possibilities as to which rum this actually was. It looked like it was a cane spirit they bottled as the ‘Classic’, but I wanted to be sure so I contacted the folks at Richland Rum to ask.

Stephen Oakley, their Marketing/PR Manager responded to my queries and gave me enough information regarding the Single Estate Georgian Rum. Stephen informed me the the rum I was tasting was Richland Rum’s Single Estate Old South Georgia Rum – Classic Reserve Single Barrel Select. He also gave me additional information which I have shared in my review.

Here is a link to the full review which includes more of Stephen’s comments about their Single Estate, Single Barrel Rum:

Review: Richland Classic Reserve Single Barrel Select Rum

“… I really do believe I could put this in a line-up with a selection of aged bourbons and it would stand up. The spirit is  oaken with rich sap and tannins and just enough sweetness to balance the oak and spice. Pungent baking spices, both corn and cane syrup, honeycomb and vanilla all work their way into the flavour profile. …”

Please enjoy my review of this surprising Single Barrel Rum:.

Chimo!

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Review: Bacardi Superior White Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 10, 2020

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 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 plants built in Mexico and Puerto Rico, the company was able to continue to grow. (All of the Bacardi assets which were left in Cuba were lost including the distillery in Santiago.)

Bacardi Superior White Rum is a direct descendant of the original rum which Facundo Bacardi produced back in 1862. Although production methods have undoubtedly changed since then, the Bacardi White Rum is still produced using a method of oak barrel aging (for one to two years) and charcoal filtration.

Here is a link to my fresh look at Bacardi Superior White Rum:

Review: Bacardi Superior White Rum

“… Bacardi Superior is a dry rum with a few rough spots. I taste wisps of almond and vanilla which is perhaps because the version sold in Canada must be aged for one year in oak to be legally sold here, and that oak aging may have left remnants of those typical flavours within the rum even though it was filtered clear. The rum tastes grassy in the mouth with impressions of menthol. I also note  flavours of banana citrus zests gaining strength as I sip …”

Please enjoy my review which includes three suggested Bacardi Cocktails.

Chimo!

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Review: Don Omario’s Vintage Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 9, 2020

Don Omario’s Vintage Rum is a premium aged rum produced in Belize, (the northernmost mainland country of Central America). Belize is a former British Colony, and lies just south of Mexico with the Caribbean Sea to the east and Guatemala to the west and south. The producer of the One Barrel Rum brand, Travellers Liquors Limited, has been involved in the production of  rum in Belize since the early 1960′s originally working with independent distillers. In 1989, Travellers acquired full control of their own distillery, and they have remained in full control of their own brands ever since.

Traveller’s Vintage Rums are made from locally grown Belize sugar cane. According to the Travellers website, this cane is cut and crushed in a manner which retains its natural flavors, and the all of the rum is aged in Kentucky oak barrels. It is blended to be a full-bodied rum with the well-rounded taste which results from oak barrel aging.

Don Omario’s Vintage Rum was first released to honor the legacy of the Company’s founder Don Omario.​ The spirit was then Re-released on the occasion of Prince Harry’s visit to Belize in March 2012.​

Here is a link to the full review:

Review: Don Omario’s Vintage Rum

“… The rum crosses the palate with firm flavours of oak, vanilla and maple/butterscotch. There is some heated spices as well carrying impressions of orange peel, cinnamon and clove. Almond seems to turn into marzipan as the flavours settle. The best way to describe what I am tasting is that this is more like a melded elixir of rum and oak flavours …”

Please enjoy my review of this outstanding rum.

Chimo!

 

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Review: Appleton Estate Reserve 8 Year Old Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 8, 2020

The Appleton Estate is located in Nassau Valley in St. Elizabeth which is part of Jamaica’s Cockpit Country. The Cockpit Country is a karst formation which was formed over millions of years as the underlying limestone was eroded by the chemical action of rain.  Within a cockpit karst formation are valleys known as Poljes. They are formed where a river floods, then recedes and forms a flat valley over millions of years. The soil in the poljes is very fertile and rich in nutrients because of the sediments left behind after the river had receded.

Appleton Rum has made some changes to their core line-up in recent years adding a 15 Year Old Rum (see review here), and moving towards minimum age statements for a larger part of their family of rums.  In particular the Appleton Estate Reserve which was previously a blend of 20 rums with an average age of 6 years, is now an Age Stated Rum with a minimum age of 8 Years for the rums in the blend. The new Appleton Estate Reserve 8 Year Old Rum is also bottled at a higher bottling proof now 43 % abv instead of 40.

Here is a link to my review:

Review: Appleton Estate Reserve 8 Year Old Rum

“… When I bring the glass to my nose zesty oak spice is foremost in the breezes. My opinion is that the reserve is more oaky than before which makes sense as the spirit when previously reviewed was a rum with an average age of 6 year whereas now the spirit is at least 33 % more mature …”

Please enjoy my review of this sipping caliber rum.

Chimo!

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