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Archive for the ‘Rum’ Category

Review: Bacardi Gold Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on May 21, 2019

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 Bacardi 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 plant built in Puerto Rico, were able to continue to build their company. Bacardi is now the largest family owned spirits company in the world.

The Bacardi Gold Rum is  produced using column still distillation and oak barrel aging (for one to two years). The final rum is further ‘shaped’ by filtering the aged rum through a secret blend of charcoal. This charcoal filtration will help to blunt some of the harsh flavour characteristics of a young rum.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Bacardi Gold Rum

“… Leading out is a soft butterscotch flavour melded with banana and orange peel with a smattering of oak, cardamom and ginger spices following. Almond and vanilla ride along with hints of brown sugar spice and cinnamon …”

Please enjoy my review which includes my cocktail suggestion, the Dog Star Daiquiri.

Chimo!

 

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Review: Appleton White Jamaican Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on May 16, 2019

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. Karst is a generic name given to limestone that has been eroded by the chemical action of rain. There are three cockpit karst formations in the world: Montenegro (formerly Yugoslavia), China and Jamaica.

Poljes are valleys formed within a cockpit karst and the Nassau Valley is a polje. Poljes are formed in formations where a river floods, recedes and then forms a flat valley after 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. The Appleton Estate is the only sugar estate in the world that is located within such a fertile cockpit karst formation. All of the rum produced by Appleton Estate is made from sugar cane grown within the Nassau Valley, and thus Appleton Estate Rum is an expression of this unique terroir.

Here is a link to my full review for Appleton White Jamaican Rum:

Review: Appleton White Jamaican Rum

“… The initial nose is quite nice with light citrus zest and orange peel combining with background impressions of mushy banana. There is also a bit of Jamaican funk in the breezes carrying a mild but firm impression of Jamaican pot distilled character into the air with herbal undertones and a hint of mustiness …”

Please enjoy my review which includes my cocktail suggestion, The Secretary General.

Chimo!

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Review: Marauda Steelpan Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 15, 2019

Marauda Steelpan Rum is produced by TerraPure Spirits located in North Charleston (South Carolina).

The Steelpan rum was apparently inspired by the steelpan music of Trinidad which evolved from the music created from steel drums (or steelpans) made from discarded steel barrels. This steelpan music is culturally linked to Trinidad but can be found throughout the Caribbean Islands.

Producing this rum begins with a 3-year-old column distilled rum from Trinidad. Added to the blend is a heavier 3-year-old column distilled Demerara rum from Guyana as well as a heavy pot distilled 3-year-old rum from Jamaica.

Here is a link to my completed review:

Review: Marauda Steelpan Rum

“… As the glass breathes I notice orange peel with touches of oak and sandalwood. A fruitiness is apparent as I receive impressions of canned apricots and banana. That Jamaican funk manifests itself with indications of resin and camphor with hints of cinnamon …”

Please enjoy my review which concludes with two cocktails for your enjoyment.

Chimo!

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Review: Rum Nation Reunion 7 Year Old Cask Strength Rhum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on January 30, 2019

Rum Nation is an Italian company created by Fabio Rossi, who began his life in the spirits trade as a Oenologist (one who has studied wine-making). After his studies, Mr. Rossi left the wine business and started up a whisky company in Edinburgh (Wilson and Morgan) acting as an independent bottler of Single Malt Scotch Whisky. His interest turned to rum, and in 1999 Fabio Rossi founded Rum Nation. His company is headquartered in Italy; but Fabio purchases select rums from various distillers in the Caribbean and the Americas. As a result Rum Nation provides a rather unique assortment of limited edition bottlings. One such bottling is Rum Nation Reunion 7 Year Old Cask Strength Rum (2018 release).

The 7 Year Old Cask Strength  Rum was distilled at the Savannah Distillery which is located on Réunion Island, which is a French department in the Indian Ocean.  The spirit was bottled at 60.5 % alcohol by volume with no dilution from cask strength. No colouring has been added, and the rum has not been chill filtered.

Here is a link to my latest review:

Review: Rum Nation Reunion 7 Year Old Cask Strength Rhum

“… Pot still funk with orange peel, anise and peppery allspice. The sweetness has built up and this sweetness and the herbal menthol provide a measure of balance for the obvious cask strength heat. …”

Please enjoy my review which includes a my cocktail suggestion, a Rum Old Fashioned with Smoked Cinnamon Bitters.

Chimo!

 

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Review: Appleton Estate 15 Year Old (Minimum Age) Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on November 16, 2018

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. In 1749, within the polje known as the Nassau Valley, the Appleton Estate Sugar Factory was founded. The Nassau Valley has a special mild micro-climate which is ideally suited to the growth of sugarcane. As well, a water source wells from the limestone formation and provides an exceptionally soft pure water which used for the production of Appleton Estate Rums.

Appleton Estate 15 Year Old Rum was recently introduced in Canada as a new Limited Edition Rum. This is a true 15 Year Old spirit as all of the rums within the blend (a mixture of column still and heavy pot still rums) have been aged a minimum of 15 Years before being bottled at 43 % alcohol by volume.

Here is a link to my latest review:

Review: Appleton Estate 15 Year Old (Minimum Age) Rum

“… my nose is greeted by zesty oak spice, caramel toffee and light funky pot still aromas (camphor and resin, bits of menthol, and vague hints of tar). Baking spices (vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg) rise into the breezes as well. Spicy orange peel and a light grassy quality also begin to wind into the air above the glass …”

Please enjoy my review which includes a my cocktail suggestion, the Rum Old Fashioned.

Chimo!

 

 

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