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Archive for the ‘Rum’ Category

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Review Revisitation: Appleton Master Blender’s Legacy Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on March 14, 2010

My journey up the ladder of Appleton Estate Rums is almost complete.  This week’s review is another re-visitation to an older review.  I opened a new bottle of Appleton Estate Master Blender’s Legacy,  and started fresh as if I had never tasted the rum before.

The Appleton Estate Master Blender’s Legacy was produced to recognize three generations of Appleton Estate Master Blenders, Joy Spence, the current Master Blender, Owen Tulloch, the  previous Master Blender, and, David Morrison the current protégé of Joy Spence.   All three blenders have set their mark on this luxurious rum.

The rum itself is a blend of rums which range in age from 18 years to 30 years.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“…The rum continues to surprise me in this second review.  The texture is cleaner than I remember, almost like a good whisky.  Tart spices of orange peel, lemon are laid behind a backdrop of clean pure oak. Sweeter flavours of baked fruit (apples and pears), brown sugar and honey lie under these spices….”

Of course the entire review may be read here:

Review: Appleton Estate Master Blender’s Legacy

I have left the original review at the bottom of the page in case it interests you in seeing how my perceptions have changed!


Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Review Revisitation: Appleton Master Blender’s Legacy Rum

Rum Review: Calico Jack Spiced Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on March 9, 2010

John “Calico Jack’ Rackham was a pirate of the early eighteenth century who seems to have two primary claims to fame.  The first was that his design of the ship’s flag may actually have been the first use this design for a  Jolly Roger flag ever on a pirate ship.  The second is that his crew featured two female pirates, Anne Bonny and Mary Read (Rackham actually believed Mary Read was a man when she joined his crew).

Researching  Calico Jack , I learned he received his nickname due to his fondness for colourful cotton calico clothing.  Also he and Anne Bonny were apparently lovers, although it appears she was actually another man’s wife.

Calico Jack’s pirate days seem to have begun in 1718 when he was elevated to the Captaincy on an English warship during a mutiny, and it ended at the end of a hangman’s noose in November of 1720 after being captured off the shore of Jamaica.  His short career of piracy was highlighted by the plundering smaller ships near the coastal shorelines in a stolen sloop and ended shortly after it began.

I could actually find little in the way of redeeming qualities for “Calico Jack” the Pirate, who appears to have captured the imagination popular culture on the basis of the Jolly Roger flag alone.  He certainly seems to have been a lousy pirate.  Perhaps standards were different back then, but huddling close to shorelines attacking only smaller ships, then allowing yourself to be captured after only a brief stint of pirating hardly seems to be the stuff of legend. (It is even rumoured that he was captured in a fight which saw only his female pirates fighting back.  Calico Jack surrendered without a fight.)

I hope that White Rock Distillers, the owners the of Calico Jack Spiced Rum Brand have a rum which fairs better than the its namesake.

You can read the full review here:

Review: Calico Jack Spiced Rum

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Posted in Flavouerd Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , | 2 Comments »

Rum Review: Appleton 151 Dark Jamaican Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on March 6, 2010

I am going off on a side rung today as I continue to review the ladder of Appleton Estate Rums.  I call this a side rung because the Appleton 151 Dark Jamaican Rum is not part of the progressive ladder I have been following from the Entry Level Appleton VX up to the rare old Appleton 21 Year Old Rum.   As well this rum is no longer advertised on the Appleton Estate Website.   I am unsure whether the rum is in production anymore, although a friend of mine who visited Jamaica told me it was still available and was a local favourite amongst Jamaicans.

I cannot verify the claim, but I am confident enough of its veracity that I am going ahead with my review.

Here is an excerpt:

“…Sweet burly molasses and spice is about all I can say at this point as the strength of the alcohol numbs the palate before much else can be deciphered.   I let everything sit in my mouth for a little while and decide that the flavour is quite complicated, but as I mentioned, the heavy alcohol strength has numbed my ability to distinguish anything individual….”

For the complete review please click on the following Link:

Review: Appleton 151 Dark Jamaican Rum

I did a little mixology research  for this review and found two nice punch constructions which I used with the Appleton Dark Jamaican Rum to great effect.The Punch recipes are “forrest Approved”, and I think you will enjoy them!

I must also thank the Edmonton chapter of The RUM CHUMS for providing this sample for me to review.  Thanks guys I appreciate all the help you provide!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Rum Review: Appleton 151 Dark Jamaican Rum

Rum Review: Pampero Anniversario Reserva Exclusiva

Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 28, 2010

In 1938 Industrias Pampero, C.A., a distillery in Venezuela was established.  This distillery is reputed  to be the first distillery in Venezuela to set the high standards for which Venezuelan Rum is now famous for.  The Pampero brand is now controlled by Diageo, one of the largest liquor companies in the world, and Diageo is responsible for marketing and selling the Pampero Rums Wordwide.

Here is an excerpt from my Review:

In the glass the rum is dark, rich and inviting.  A quick swirl reveals moderate legs trailing down the glass and brings scents of brown sugar (baking) spices to the fore. Heavy dark brown sugar, underlain with caramel, cinnamon, nutmeg and spicy oak tannin present a luxurious bouquet to the nose. Hints of tobacco and unfinished leather seem to come and go, and even a few tea leaves seemed scattered in the breezes. This is heady stuff.

Click on the following Link to read the full review:

Review: Pampero Anniversario Reserva Exclusiva

As usual I have included a cocktail Suggestion or two.  Enjoy!!

And I must give a big thank you to the Rum Chums who provided me with the sample to review.   I really appreciate the help that the club has provided.

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Rum Review: Pampero Anniversario Reserva Exclusiva

Rum Review: El Dorado 5 Yr Cask Aged Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 24, 2010

Demerara County (in Guyana) is popular across the world for its rich, three hundred year history of rum production. Using a combination of old wooden stills in conjunction with modern stills and distilling techniques, Demerara Distillers Ltd. (DDL) has built a reputation for outstanding quality and consistent production.  DDL is the currently the largest supplier of bulk Caribbean rums to Europe and North America.

The Dark El Dorado 5 and the White Eldorado 3Here is an excerpt from my review:

“….instead of tasting like a typically sweet South American Rum, this has more of a Caribbean Island flavour profile with a hint of mildly bitter tobacco resting under the flavours and spices.  I taste toasted notes of spicy oak, dry fruits (dates, figs and coconut), as well as a caramelized brown sugar.  Although the rum is buttery, it is also  slightly dry with a tea like flavour that asserts itself with the dryness…”

You can read the full review here:

Review: El Dorado 5 Yr Cask Aged Rum.

As usual I have provided a nice cocktail of my own creation with the Review.

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Rum Review: El Dorado 5 Yr Cask Aged Rum

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