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Archive for the ‘Rum Reviews’ Category

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Review: Barcelo Imperial Premium 30 Aniversario Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on May 4, 2022

Ron Barceló was founded in 1930 under the name Barceló & Co in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. The rum brand quickly grew in popularity growing into one of the largest in the Dominican, and the brand is now exported world-wide to over 25 countries.

When I dug further into the rum’s story I found that it had been created in 2011. At that time the spirit was blended from 10 year old reserves which were aged an additional 2 years in white oak from France, some from the Bordeaux house of Château d’Yquem. Whether much has changed since 2011 is hard to say; but the implication is that the rum is probably made from a blend of cane spirits which have been aged up to 12 years.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Barcelo Imperial Premium 30 Aniversario Rum

“… Fine oak spices and caramel toffee melded with with vanilla, rich brown sugar and baking spices. There is a whiff of apricot brandy and then even more fine wood spice pouring upwards. Notes of honeycomb, marzipan, bits of cola and even a light impression of my Mom’s cinnamon rolls seem to be floating in the air …”

Chimo!

Please enjoy my review of this exceptional rum from Ron Barcelo.

 

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Review: Angostura 5 Year Old Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 27, 2022

The House of Angostura traces its beginnings to 1824 when German doctor, Johann Gottlieb Benjamin Siegert, who was then a Surgeon-General in the Venezuelan Army, created a blend of aromatic herbs which he called “Amargo Aromatico” and which would become the world-famous Angostura Bitters. Although the company he created to manufacture these bitters was originally founded in the town known as Angostura (later to be renamed Bolivar City), the company was relocated by his successors (his younger brother and son), who  moved it to Port of Spain, Trinidad in 1876.

The Angostura 5 Year Old Rum is (like all of the Angostura Rums) produced from molasses on their five column still. Part of the rum is produced from a heavy distillate which is drawn from the multi-column still after passing through only one of the five columns. This heavily flavoured rum is aged and then blended with a more purely refined spirit which is distilled upon all five columns.

Here is a link to my latest review:

Review: Angostura 5 Year Old Rum

“… Butterscotch, fine oak spice, almond and orange peel complimented by vanilla and light baking spices (ginger and cinnamon). There is also a light coconut impression; and as the glass breathes, the almond scent seems to mingle with the butterscotch and vanilla to bring about a very mild impression of marzipan …”

Please enjoy my review which concludes with my cocktail suggestion, the Railcar.

Chimo!

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Review: Barcelo Gran Anejo Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 19, 2022

Ron Barceló was founded in 1930 under the name Barceló & Co in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. The rum brand quickly grew in popularity growing into one of the largest in the Dominican, and the brand is now exported world-wide to over 25 countries.

According to the company’s website Barcelo Gran Anejo Rum is a blend of Dominican rums aged for up to six years in ex-Bourbon oak casks. This makes it a more premium rum that the previously reviewed Barcelo Anejo (see here). Although the Gran Anejo is reported to contain rums aged up to six years, I should point out that the spirit is sold without an age statement.  I think we can assume that the Gran Anejo Rum will have an average age somewhat less than the six years mentioned on the website.

In my locale (Edmonton, Alberta) the rum is sold at 40 % alcohol by volume in a 750 ml bottle, however I have also seen bottles sold at 37.5 % alcohol by volume in 700 ml bottles. This review is for the version sold at the 40 % bottling strength.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Barcelo Gran Anejo Rum

“… The Gran Anejo Rum does seem to be a step up from its younger sibling, Barcello Anejo. The initial aroma brings fine wood spices, hints of butterscotch and almond into the air. Accompanying notes of vanilla, orange and banana peel arrive as well as does a mild menthol grassiness. Perhaps I am noticing a light build up of baking spices (cinnamon and ginger) as well …”

Please enjoy the review as well as the suggested cocktail which follows, The Swift Turtle!

Chimo!

 

Posted in Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on Review: Barcelo Gran Anejo Rum

Review: The Rum Rats Arco Seco (The Perfect Barrel)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 11, 2022

Arco Seco  is a Panamanian rum brought to you by Rum Rats. a partnership of Shamus Hewitt & Jason Gardner based in Ontario Canada. To bring this rum to Canada, Shamus and Jason have collaborated with renowned Panamanian Master Blender, Francisco “Don Pancho” Fernandez and Carlos Esquivel of the Pilsa Rum Distillery in Panama.

According to the Rum Rats website, this first rum release from Rum Rats brings a distinct, authentic Panamanian flavour to the Canadian market. It is a single origin spirit aged for 5 years in previously used Bourbon barrels. The rum is column-distilled from black molasses rum processed, fermented, distilled and aged all in the Arco Seco region of Panama. It is non-chill filtered and bottled at 43 % alcohol by volume with with no sugar or additives.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: The Rum Rats Arco Seco

“… Mild butterscotch and honey combine with vanilla and almond. Orange peel is present as are fine oak spices. As the rum breathes the fine oak spices build up giving us a sort of dry and dusty impression of sandalwood and straw. There are hints of tropical fruit (banana and coconut) as well as vague impressions of baking spices …”

Please enjoy my first rum review in over a year. Hopefully this starts a trend.

Chimo!

 

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

Review: Khukri XXX

Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 19, 2021

Khukri XXX Rum is produced by Nepal Distilleries Private Limited who began to produce spirit in Kathmandu Nepal in 1959. In the beginning, Khuri began distilling alcohol using traditional pot stills from the late 1800s (Those initial pot stills are now on display in the distillery). However the company has modernized production and now uses a 3 column distillation and they have replaced they use of oak barrel aging with the use of special wooden oak vats for maturation of their molasses based distillate.

Reading through the website I came to the conclusion that the rums produced are of no single age. The maturation vats appear to be emptied only partially each time. This leaves a percentage of rum behind to age further until the next time the vat is emptied partially again. Apparently the youngest rum in any particular batch may be as young as 8 months old, while the oldest rum in the blend might have been in the vat when the process was started many years ago.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Khukri XXX

” … The entry brings wood and baking spices forward and unfortunately a mild but noticeable bite of alcohol astringency. I can taste vanilla, cinnamon and dark brown sugar, oak spice and molasses which is followed by treacle, oak spice, orange peel, cola, cocoa and walnut …”

Please enjoy my review!

Chimo!

Posted in Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , | 1 Comment »

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