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Archive for the ‘Rum’ Category

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2016 Spiced Rum Taste-off: Captain Morgan Silver Spiced Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 18, 2016

Silver Spiced RumCaptain Morgan Rum traces its history back to 1945 when Seagram’s CEO, Samuel Bronfman, negotiated the purchase of the Long Pond Distillery from the Jamaican Government and formed the Captain Morgan Rum Company. The company’s iconic rum brand, Captain Morgan’s Original Spiced Rum was based upon a recipe purchased from two local Jamaican pharmacists, the Levy Brothers, who had developed the recipe using rum from the Long Pond Distillery. The brand is now owned by Diageo, and their Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum is the best-selling spiced rum in the world.

The lessor known Captain Morgan Silver Spiced Rum, is a blend of clear, rich Puerto Rican white rum and tropical spice with a sweet vanilla character. It is bottled at 35% alcohol by volume.

#15 Captain Morgan Silver Spiced Rum

“… The initial aroma is pleasant with a pleasing (but very mild) mixture of butterscotch and vanilla rising into the breezes. I sense some tropical fruit (mango, banana and orange peel) and light accents of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. Also rising into the breezes is a very light oakiness …”

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I hope you all find this countdown enjoyable and you can follow the rankings here:

The Rum Howler 2016 Spiced Rum Countdown

Posted in Rum, Rum Reviews, Spiced Rum, White Rums | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on 2016 Spiced Rum Taste-off: Captain Morgan Silver Spiced Rum

2016 Spiced Rum Taste-off: Capatain Morgan Original Spiced Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 15, 2016

Cable Car SAM_2624

Captain Morgan and the Cable car

Admiral Sir Henry Morgan (aka Captain Morgan) was a Welsh ‘privateer’ who attacked and plundered the Caribbean on behalf of, and with the written consent of (in the form of an English Letter of Marque), the Governor of Jamaica, Sir Thomas Modyford. Privateers at that time in history were essentially ‘legal pirates’ who were allowed to attack and loot enemies of the state reaping the rewards from their plunder in lieu of pay. Researching Sir Henry Morgan, I learned he was a skilled naval captain, a ruthless buccaneer, and one of the most successful ‘privateers’ in the history of piracy earning a Knighthood for himself in 1674.

Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum is of course the name of Diageo’s top-selling spiced rum. It is the most successful spiced rum (at least with respect to sales) in the entire category, and has pretty much set the standard for sales and marketing for all other spiced rums to follow.

Here are my latest thoughts on the Original Captain:

#16 Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum

” …  I began to taste light oak spices, a peppery citrus zest, and the faint echo of baking spices. My feeling is that the flavour profile is quite approachable, but it is not really geared towards sipping. This is a mixer and that is where the rum excels …”

Please enjoy the review which includes a fantastic cocktail recipe created by Tony Abou-Ganim, the Cable Car.

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I hope you all find this countdown enjoyable and you can follow the rankings here:

The Rum Howler 2016 Spiced Rum Countdown

Posted in Awards, Extras, Rum, Rum Reviews, Spiced Rum | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on 2016 Spiced Rum Taste-off: Capatain Morgan Original Spiced Rum

2016 Spiced Rum Taste-off: Lamb’s Blacksheep Spiced Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 12, 2016

lambs-blacksheepLamb’s Blacksheep Spiced Rum was recently dropped from the  Corby Brands website which lists their entire stable of North American Brands. hopefully this is only temporary as the brand featured a very unique take on the spiced rum category. When the brand was listed, they offered this description of the spiced rum:

“…Lamb’s® Black Sheep Spiced Rum is produced and blended in small batches to ensure consistency of the complex flavour profile that is unique to the rum category. Our ingredients – the finest cinnamon from Korintje, Madagascar-bourbon vanilla and lime essence from Mexico have been carefully selected from around the world to ensure optimal enjoyment on the palate…”

My bottle of the Blacksheep rum is bottled at 37.5 % alcohol by volume, and even though it has disappeared from Corby’s website it is still available in my locale in the attractive 750 ml bottle shown to the left.

Here is a link to my review:

#17 Lamb’s Blacksheep Spiced Rum

“… Speaking of the cinnamon, it’s imprint is felt firmly in the breeses above the glass as is a healthy dose of vanilla. The combination of sugar sweetener, cinnamon, and vanilla reminds me of those tiny red heart-shaped candies I used to buy as a kid. Behind the cinnamon and the vanilla is the mild caramel scent …”

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I hope you all find this countdown enjoyable and you can follow the rankings here:

The Rum Howler 2016 Spiced Rum Countdown

 

Posted in Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | 4 Comments »

2016 Spiced Rum Taste-off: Wild Geese Spiced Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 9, 2016

srumThe Flight of the Wild Geese is a reference to a regimental force which traveled from Ireland to France under the command of Patrick Sarsfield, as stipulated in the Treaty of Limerick on October 3, 1691. The western counties of Clare, Limerick, Cork, Kerry and Galway provided most of these recruits as French ships would arrive on the west of Ireland with cargoes of smuggled brandy or wine and would depart with troops for the Irish Brigade.

Those ships which carried the recruits apparently listed the smuggled troops as “Wild Geese,” in the ship’s records which of course is the genesis of the name given to these Irish Soldiers. The tradition of the Wild Geese Soldiers all but ended in 1745 when Irish recruitment for continental armies was made illegal.

The Wild Geese Rum Collection is the companion to the Wild Geese Irish Whisky Collection. While the Wild Geese Irish Whisky collection sought to bring the Story of the Wild Geese and their struggles in European Armies to light, the Wild Geese Rum Collection continues the saga bringing to light the story of some of these Wild Geese who after service in the continental armies of Europe found themselves transported to America and the Caribbean where many worked upon the Rum Plantations in the new world.

Here is a link to my review of The Wild Geese Spiced Rum:

#18  The Wild Geese Caribbean Spiced Rum

“… The initial flavour impressions I receive across my palate are similar to what I experienced as I nosed the glass. I sense a trio of fruitiness which resembles cherry licorice, fresh mango and sliced pineapple. There is also a welcome spiciness which runs through the rum with suggestions of coriander and ginger implied by my taste buds. Rounding out the flavour is an impression of vanilla with hints of butterscotch sweetness …”

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I hope you all find this countdown enjoyable and you can follow the rankings here:

The Rum Howler 2016 Spiced Rum Countdown

Posted in Awards, Extras, Rum, Rum Reviews, Spiced Rum | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on 2016 Spiced Rum Taste-off: Wild Geese Spiced Rum

Review: Brugal Anejo Superior Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 5, 2016

Brugal Anejo SAM_2347The Brugal Distillery was founded in 1888, by Andrés Brugal Montaner. Over the next one hundred and twenty years the company grew steadily, and it is now one of three large rum distillers in the Dominican Republic. Although the Edrington Group now controls the company, George Arzeno Brugal, is the current chairman, and most of the current board members are direct descendants of the original company founder.

I reviewed Brugal Anejo about six years ago when it was called, Ron Brugal Anejo – Desde  1888. My understanding from talking to the local Brugal Brand Ambassador about two years ago at the Rocky Mountain Food and Wine Show is that the spirit has undergone a few changes since my original review. In particular, since the Edrington Group gained control of the company, they have instituted a new wood policy which governs how all of the Brugal spirits are aged. This practice brings the cask selection process into line with the wood policy the company uses for its Scotch whiskies.

According to the Brugal USA Website, Brugal continues makes their rum in the traditional manner (from molasses) and ages the spirit on site in Puerto Plata. The Brugal Anejo is aged for two to five years in medium toasted ex-Bourbon American white oak casks.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Brugal Anejo Superior Rum

“… the fine oak spices have gained a little momentum. There are light impressions of raisins and chocolate, making me check my notes to make sure that no sherry barrels have been used to age the rum (they have not). A few baking spices are beginning to peek into the breezes with little hits of cinnamon and even lighter cloves. Wisps of orange peel (as well as orange Curacao) seem to meander into the aroma …”

Please enjoy my review!

Posted in Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Brugal Anejo Superior Rum

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