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Archive for the ‘Rum’ Category

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Review: Barbancourt 8 Yr Old Haitian Rhum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 19, 2010

The Earthquake which struck Haiti on January 12, 2010 has had, (and continues to have), a devastating impact on the Nation of Haiti as a whole.  Reports are very contradictory as far as the impacts towards the rum industry which is a major player in the overall economy of Haiti.  In fact it is believed that the rum industry must be one of the major driving forces to supply jobs and income to help the country rebuild.  With that in mind I decided to review the Barbancourt 8 Yr Old Haitian Rhum such that anyone so inclined to support the rebuilding of Haiti by purchasing one of their export products would have an idea of whether such an idea would be solely an act of charity or whether the purchase would be worthwhile entirely on its own merit.

I am happy to report that the rhum is very nice and will in the future be a staple of my rum cabinet.  Here is an excerpt from my review:

“Upon my tongue the rum feels mildly soft and buttery.  In fact I believe I can taste butter alongside the light brown sugar.  For spices there is only light hints of cinnamon and oak tannin which begins to taste like anise and orange peel as I let it sit in my mouth.  The spiciness is very mild.”

You can read the full review here:

Review: Barbancourt 8 Yr Old Haitian Rhum

 

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Barbancourt 8 Yr Old Haitian Rhum

Rum Review: Appleton Estate Reserve

Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 14, 2010

This is the second review in the series  I am completing of the Rums in the Appleton Estate family of Rums. The Appleton Reserve rum is constructed from a blend of 20 aged rums which have each been aged for approximately 8 years.   The rum is intended to be perfect for those who wish to be introduced to a complex rum style meant for sipping neat and for using in sophisticated cocktails.

One thing that I noticed which was missing from the newer bottles of Reserve, is the 8 year age statement.  I am not sure when the age statement was dropped but his seems to be a trend among major distillers of spirits worldwide.  These large distillers are increasingly more concerned with a signature taste profile than they are with adhering to a specified minimum age requirement for their spirits.  In the end, taste is what matters and my review will be concerned with the taste and character of the rum and not the age.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

This has a spicy zip on the tongue that is full of citrus peel, oak spice, candy apples, cloves, and cinnamon.    There is, (in spite of the softness of the rum on my tongue), a sharpness and intensity in these spicy flavours.  Underneath this spiciness are additional flavours of butterscotch, caramel and vanilla.  At the bottom of the  palate I find an earthiness which seems almost brooding to me.

You may read the full review here:

Review: Appleton Estate Reserve

Of course I could not resist adding a few cocktail suggestions to the review.  Enjoy!

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

Rum Review: Appleton Estate VX

Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 7, 2010

In 1749, in the Nassau Valley of Jamaica, the Appleton Estate Sugar factory was founded.  The Nassau Valley is a fertile, interior valley with a special mild microclimate which is ideally suited to the growth of Sugarcane.  A water source which wells from a limestone rock formation provides an exceptionally soft pure water which used for the production of Appleton Rums.

The Rum itself is crafted from pot stills in small batches.  After blending and aging the rums are ready for bottling.  Unlike most rums produced in the Caribbean, Jamaican law forbids the use of an age statement unless the entire contents of a bottle are aged at least as long as the stated age.

Booklet Courtesy of Appleton Estate Rums

This is the first review in a series I am doing on Appleton Rums. I am starting with the Appleton Estate VX and I will work my way up the ladder of Appleton Rums to the Appleton 21 Year Old.  This will include the Appleton Reserve, The Appleton Estate Extra 12 Year,  The Master Blenders Legacy, and the Appleton Dark 151 Proof.  An astute person will realize that I have already reviewed Appleton Estate Extra 12 Year Old and the Master Blenders Legacy. I will take this opportunity as I go up the Appleton Ladder to revisit these reviews and these rums.

Here is an excerpt from my Appleton Estate VX Review:

” The rum displays an amber colour with orange flashes.  Surprisingly (to me) the rum when swirled left nice long skinny legs in my glass indicating a buttery oil present.  The aroma is very spicy, and full of oak tannin.  I smell a firm and distinct orange peel, and light brown sugar and molasses rising in the tangy oak spice….”

I have also included an original cocktail based upon the popular Cosmopolitan. As usual my cocktail recipe has been reviewed and approved by forrest.

You may read the entire review here:

Review: Appleton Estate VX Rum

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

Peachy Superbowl Spiced Rum Punch

Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 5, 2010

Its almost Super Sunday, and the Ministry of Rum is having a contest for a Superbowl Punch recipe.  I remembered a recipe that I sent forrest a while back, and decided to enter it in the contest.  The recipe is my original creation as is one of the few punches I know of with peach juice.  So for now I will call it my:

Peachy Superbowl Spiced Rum Punch.

Here is the recipe:
1 cup Lamb’s Blacksheep Spiced Rum
1/2 cup  Appleton Estate VX Rum
1/4 cup Triple Sec
2  cups Peach Juice
3 cups  Orange Juice
1/4 cup Lime Juice
3 tbsp  Simple Syrup

Garnish Punch Bowl with slices of peach fruit

Finish with Large Ice Cubes

I find this to be a very refreshing drink and as you can see I fill my glass to the brim!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Flavouerd Rums, Rum | Tagged: , , | 2 Comments »

Rum Review: Cockspur 12 Bajan Crafted Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 2, 2010

The origins of rum on Barbados stretch all the way back to 1637, when the first stalks of sugar cane were brought to the island by Pieter Blower from Brazil. Almost immediately sugar plantations and factories sprang up to produce sugar and molasses. The molasses, which is the byproduct of sugar production, was being distilled, and the resulting distillate was sold in bulk as early as 1650. This product first called  ‘kill devil’ was sold to taverns and ships, and by 1650 over 200 thousand gallons were being sold.  The word ‘rum’ is believed to have originated in Barbados as a shortened form of the name  ‘rum bullion’  which appeared in 1651 as a listing of a ships manifest by an unknown visitor to Barbados. This is why Barbados is generally accepted as the possible birthplace of rum.  Today rum remains one of the largest exports for the Barbados economy.

Cockspur Rum, was founded over one hundred years ago in 1884.  The rum company has a rich history and their rum is widely regarded as  amongst the very best in the world.  A friend of mine found and purchased a bottle of the Cockspur 12 rum about six months ago.  He offered to give me a large enough portion so that I could review the rum for my blog, and I gladly accepted his kindness.  I am truly blessed to have such friends as I do.  Here is an excerpt from my review:

“Several flavours jumped out at me on first tasting.  Toasted vanilla and charred molasses grabbed my taste buds first, and then I was subdued by a lurking tobacco richness that swelled up and filled my mouth. …”

You may read the full review here:

Review: Cockspur 12 Bajan Crafted Rum

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Rum Review: Cockspur 12 Bajan Crafted Rum

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