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Archive for the ‘Whisk(e)y’ Category

Review: Wild Turkey 101 (Kentucky Straight Bourbon)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 18, 2018

Wild Turkey produces their bourbon from a mash bill which includes three grains: corn, barley, and rye. This mash bill is said to have a relatively high proportion of rye which gives the whiskey brand its signature spicy kick.  Wild Turkey 101, rather than being bottled at the regular 40 % alcohol by volume is instead bottled at a higher proof, 50.5% alcohol by volume or 101 proof.

Although the spirit carries no age statement, the Wild Turkey Website informs us that this Kentucky Straight Bourbon is blended from whiskeys aged from five to eight years (minimum 5 years) in what the company refers to as their ‘famous #4 alligator char‘ American Oak barrels.

Here is a link to my full review of this outstanding bourbon whiskey:

Review: Wild Turkey 101 (Kentucky Straight Bourbon)

“… When I take my first sip, I find an abundance of rye flavour joined by a light rum-like caramel, firm vanilla flavours and spicy oak sap and tannins. Although the whiskey is rye-forward, I also taste a firm presence of corn meandering alongside. Light flavours of maple join with the caramel, and some delicious baking spices (vanilla, ginger, nutmeg, and cinnamon) accent the oak and the rye …”

Please enjoy my review which includes a recipe suggestion from Campari (the brand owner), the Wild Mustang.

Chimo!

Posted in American Whiskey, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , | 1 Comment »

Review: Crown Royal Vanilla Canadian Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 11, 2018

Crown Royal Canadian Whisky is produced in Gimli, Manitoba, at the Crown Royal Distillery. The distillery and the brand are owned by the spirits conglomerate, Diageo, and I think it is fair to say that Crown Royal is Diageo’s flagship Canadian Whisky brand. About a year ago Crown Royal Vanilla Whisky was introduced as an addition to the Crown Royal family of whiskies.

According to the Crown Royal website:

To create this extraordinary blend, Crown Royal whiskies are carefully selected by our master whisky blenders and infused with the rich flavor of Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla. The result is a uniquely sophisticated whisky, bursting with the bold flavor of vanilla and the distinctive smoothness of Crown Royal.”

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Crown Royal Vanilla Canadian Whisky

” … The initial aroma brings a combination of butterscotch and vanilla forward with some nice oak and grain spices. It is nice that the underlying Crown Royal Whisky can break through the sweetened vanilla …”

Please enjoy my review, which includes a nice cocktail suggestion, the Railroader.

Chimo!

 

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on Review: Crown Royal Vanilla Canadian Whisky

Review: J.P. Wiser’s 35 Years Old Canadian Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 5, 2018

This past fall, I sampled and reviewed J.P. Wiser’s 35 Year Old Whisky. Unfortunately, within my bottle, I found a light taint of mold which I did not enjoy which I discussed in the review. To the credit of the brand owner, Corby’s, they approached me and wanted to get to the bottom of the problem. I was sent lab samples, a new bottle to replace the bottle which had the moldy taint, and they took back the moldy bottle to examine it in their own lab.

I of course tasted everything they sent me, and when I was a juror for the 2018 Canadian Whisky Awards, I sampled the spirit once again; this time in a blind format. None of my subsequent encounters with the new samples showed me any hint of the mold I had tasted in my original bottle. So after careful consideration, I have decided that my original bottle was a one-off, and a new review for the 35 Year Old Whisky was appropriate.

Here is a link to that new review:

Review: J.P. Wiser’s 35 Years Old Canadian Whisky

” … Initially the breezes above the glass brought me a combination of fine oak spices melded with scents of both corn and rye grain. Then some lovely deep smells of maple began to build with vanilla and lush baking spices (cinnamon, brown sugar, with hints of both nutmeg and cloves.) Nutty almond impressions began to give way to marzipan and alongside were fruity smells of canned apricots and marmalade …”

Please enjoy my review, Chimo!

 

 

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: J.P. Wiser’s 35 Years Old Canadian Whisky

Review: Russell’s Reserve (10 Years Old) Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 4, 2018

Wild Turkey Kentucky Straight Bourbon is distilled and bottled at the Wild Turkey Distillery near Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. The company is a division of the Campari Group. Wild Turkey produces their bourbon from a mash bill which includes three grains: corn, barley, and rye. This mash bill is said to have a relatively high proportion of rye which gives the whiskey brand its signature spicy kick. Russell’s Reserve is an age stated bourbon brand produced by Wild Turkey. Like all Wild Turkey Bourbons the whiskey is aged in what the company refers to as their ‘famous #4 alligator char‘ American Oak barrels.

The Russell’s Reserve 10 Year Old is bottled at 45 % alcohol by volume or 90 proof.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Russell’s Reserve (10 Years Old)

“… The delivery brings a peppery bite of oak spice and alcohol along with it. As stated earlier, this is bottled at 45 % alcohol by volume, so a bit of alcohol punch is not out of place. I taste bits of wood sap and oak spice. The initial sharpness is tempered by a light butterscotch as well as a firm flavour of vanilla and almond. Fruit flavours are present in the form of orange peel and canned apricots …”

I hope you enjoy my latest review.

Chimo!

Posted in American Whiskey, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Russell’s Reserve (10 Years Old) Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Review: Last Mountain Prairie Cherry Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on April 1, 2018

The Last Mountain Distillery is part of a small wave of Micro-Distillers which have began to appear on the Canadian landscape over the last few years. These are small ‘mom and pop’ operations which make their spirits in small batches usually only a barrel or two at a time. This particular distillery is located in Lumsden, Saskatchewan, and it is owned and operated by the husband and wife team of Colin and Meredith Schmidt.

Last Mountain Prairie Cherry Whisky was launched in December 2014. It is produced by barrel aging the Last Mountain Wheat Whisky with organic sour cherries from Over The Hill Orchards in Lumsden Saskatchewan, and then lightly sweetened the spirit using organic sugar cane.

Here is a link to my latest review:

Review: Last Mountain Prairie Cherry Whisky

“… When I took my first sip, I found the spirit did not demonstrate nearly as much sweetness as the nose had indicated. The cherry flavour however, wasn’t what I expected. I was expecting the flavour of a nice ripe BC Cherry, whereas the Saskatchewan Prairie Cherry appears to have a somewhat different flavour. (The Saskatchewan Prairie Cherry were developed at the University of Saskatchewan to be suitably hardy for the cold Saskatchewan prairie winters. Although they are not necessarily sour as the name indicates,they do have a different taste characteristic than the BC Cherry.) I also felt that the underlying whisky seemed to be taking center stage with the flavour of the Saskatchewan Prairie Cherry playing a secondary role …”

Please enjoy my review, and my suggested recipe at the conclusion, the Prairie Cherry Cosmo.

Chimo!

Posted in Flavoured Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisky Review | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Last Mountain Prairie Cherry Whisky