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Archive for the ‘Rum’ Category

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Review: Havana Club Selección de Maestros Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on May 20, 2012

Havana Club’s new Selección de Maestros Rum is an authentic Cuban rum that has recently replaced the Havana Club Barrel Proof in the portfolio of Havana Club Rums. It is my understanding that the Selección de Maestros is produced in the same manner as the Havana Club Barrel Proof, and any differences between the two rums are more a matter of normal variations in batch production than any real difference between the rums.

The rum undergoes a rather unique maturation process where it is first aged in old white oak barrels, and when the final rum is blended, it is then finished in specially ‘selected’ younger finishing casks. I have heard of this ‘Double Barrel’ approach with whisky, but the Havana Club Barrel Proof and now its replacement, the Selección de Maestros, is the first rum that I know of which uses older white oak maturation casks and then younger fresh oak finishing casks.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“… The immediate nose is of sweet toffee, with a nice complement of cinnamon. Nutmeg and cloves work their way into the breezes along with a little oak, some hot orange peel and a touch of green tobacco. As the glass sits, the aroma of toffee intensifies making the rum seem very attractive, which of course leads me to steal a sip …”

You may read the full review here:

Review: Havana Club Selección de Maestros Rum

As well I have added a Cuba Libre’ Style cocktail for your enjoyment called, Cuban Cane Harvest.

Please Enjoy my review!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Havana Club Selección de Maestros Rum

Introducing: Captain Morgan Black Spiced Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on May 19, 2012

Captain Morgan Rum has just expanded their range of spiced rums to include a new “Black” spiced rum. I suspect that the recent success of  the Kraken Black Spiced Rum has motivated a move in this direction in order to garner a segment of this market. Of course the launch of the Captain Morgan Black Spiced Rum was accompanied with a slick media campaign which you are probably aware of already, but in case you are not, I shall relate a little of the information here.

The newest addition to the Captain Morgan Brand was apparently inspired by the story of Captain Morgan’s burial on the shores of Port Royal Harbour, Jamaica in 1688. As it was related to me, an earthquake struck Jamaica, just after the good Captain was buried. His casket was dislodged from its tomb and washed out to sea. It was never recovered, and to this day it has been suggested that perhaps his spirit lives on haunting the seas of the Caribbean searching for his lost remains. The imagery of the background story is captured in the bottle presentation. As the bottle empties, images of Captain Henry Morgan’s casket and skeleton are revealed inside the bottle on the backside of the front label.

In addition to the background story, the promotional information sent to me by the PR firm for Captain Morgan Rum tells me

  “Captain Morgan Black Spiced Rum is a mature and carefully crafted spirit that is meant to be savored like a fine whiskey or enjoyed in a classic cocktail. We believe this bold, interesting and unexpected new offering has the potential to make Captain Morgan the preferred spirit among a segment of consumers we don’t currently reach with our existing portfolio.”

In keeping with that claim, the Captain Morgan Black Spiced Rum was constructed from a base of Caribbean Blackstrap rum and selected ingredients which include clove spice and cassia bark (cinnamon). The rum was also finished in double charred blackened oak to add additional smoothness and character.

I have been told that this black spiced rum has a bold, edgy look and feel, and is considered to be a complete departure from the Original Spiced Rum. The marketing campaign and the rum are designed a to bring to life the darker, more mysterious side of the real-life brand icon, Captain Henry Morgan. Of course, I cannot confirm nor deny any of the claims as to the quality of the spirit or whether this rum is truly something different…, yet.

However, samples are on the way, and you can expect a detailed review soon after they arrive. In the meantime, perhaps you could enjoy my reviews of the rest of the Captain Morgan line-up:

BTW: Although I have not received my sample as yet, Captain Morgan Black Spiced Rum is apparently already in stores now. If anyone has tried some, feel free to give me feedback.

Cheers everyone!

Posted in Dark Rums, Flavouerd Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on Introducing: Captain Morgan Black Spiced Rum

Review: Tanduay Superior Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on May 6, 2012

In 1999, The Manilla Wine Merchants Inc. formally changed their name to Tanduay Holdings, and they are currently one of the largest rum producers in the world. In fact Tanduay Rum is regularly listed alongside Bacardi Rum as the two best-selling brands of rum in the world. The reason I had never heard of Tanduay until about five years ago is simply because almost all of their rum sales occur in Asia where Tanduay is the most popular brand.

According to the Tanduay Website, all of their rum is produced from four main ingredients, distilled alcohol (from sugar cane molasses), demineralized water, sugar, and a rather nebulous term, ‘other ingredients’.  The website explains that the distilled sugar cane molasses is aged in oak barrels for a minimum of two years for all their brands, after which it is blended with the aforementioned water, sugar, and those ‘other ingredients’. The Tanduay Superior is labeled as a 12-year-old rum produced by Tandauy Holdings for their domestic market. This 12-year-old rum is considered ‘the cognac’ of rums by Tanduay and is the most premium ‘production rum’ in their current portfolio.

My good friend Lance, who also reviews rum on his website, Liquorature, supplied me with a sample of Tanduay Superior from which I was able to cobble together this review.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“… When I initially brought the rum to my nose I noticed caramel and molasses rising with a good dose of oak and baking spices thrown in for good measure. The amount of wood that I detect is a good sign. My fear was that those ‘other ingredients’ would be dominating the rum, but to be perfectly honest the nose of the rum does not seem to carry any untoward scents and aromas….”

You may read the full review here:

Review: Tanduay Superior Rum

Please enjoy the review!

Posted in Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Tanduay Superior Rum

Review: Ron Millonario XO Reserva Especial Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 22, 2012

Ron Millonario XO Reserva Especial Rum is a new rum which has entered the Alberta marketplace from Peru. It was extremely hard to research this rum as not even the Ron Millonario Website has any information about it.  The website does speak of three old Scottish column stills and a slow distillation process used to produce their rum from sugar cane molasses, although the exact distillery which produces the rum is not mentioned (only that it can be found in the North of Peru). It is implied that this distillery uses its own specially selected yeasts in the fermentation process, and mention is made of the distillery’s own coopers who construct their own aging barrels from American and Slavonian oak.

Although specifics about this particular rum are hard to find, it does give me an opportunity to review the spirit with very few preconceptions.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“… As the glass breathes baking spices build with luxurious scents of vanilla, dark brown sugar, cinnamon, cloves and allspice. I seem to be catching hints of dry fruit which are sort of reminiscent of Christmas fruit cake. My sense is that the aroma is very well balanced… “

You may click the following link to read the full review:

Review: Ron Millonario XO Reserva Especial Rum

Cheers!

Posted in Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Ron Millonario XO Reserva Especial Rum

Review: Dos Maderas (5 + 5) PX

Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 19, 2012

The Dos Maderas (5+5) PX is a rum of Caribbean origin (Barbados and Guyana to be exact), which after first aging in for five years in American oak casks in the Caribbean, is then transported to Spain to spend an additional five years in Spanish oak (sherry casks). This additional aging occurs in two stages. First the rum spends 3 years in Palo Cortado sherry casks, and then the rum spends the final two years of aging in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks.

This three-step aging process is very unique and brings to the rum a very interesting new taste profile. While ‘Sherried Whisky’ has a long tradition in Scotland, a ‘Sherried Rum’ is a relatively new (and relatively exciting) development. This product is being brought to my market by Philippe Dandurand Wines Limited.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“… As the glass breathes the aroma seems to ooze a certain luxury and class. Vanilla, cinnamon, allspice , nutmeg and marzipan all seem to find their way into the breezes as does a nice impression of toasted coconut and orange marmalade… “

You may read the full review here:

Review: Dos Maderas (5 + 5) PX

Enjoy the review everyone…Cheers!

Posted in Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on Review: Dos Maderas (5 + 5) PX

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