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Archive for the ‘Whisk(e)y’ Category

Review: Pendleton 1910 Canadian Whisky (Aged 12 Years)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on March 7, 2018

Pendleton 1910 Canadian Whisky is a 100 % Canadian Whisky. The spirit is produced and aged in Calgary Alberta, and then transported to Oregon where it is brought to bottling proof by Hood River Distillers using the glacial fed waters from Mt. Hood. The whisky is named to honour the year of the very first Pendleton Round-up, which is a respected rodeo in Pendleton, Oregon. In fact, Pendleton Whisky sponsors numerous rodeos, including the aforementioned  the Pendleton Round-Up, the Cheyenne Frontier Days, and the Walla Walla Frontier Days.

Here is a link to my latest review:

Review: Pendleton 1910 Canadian Whisky

“… The oak deepens over time and a few scents of charcoal are added to the fray. Some mild baking spices evolve (ginger, nutmeg and ever so light scents of cinnamon), and as the glass sits even longer, the whisky reveals more as I now sense maple syrup and butter on hot toasted white bread. I like how the sweet scents of honey, butterscotch and maple are mingling playfully with the hotter, spicier oak and rye …”

Please enjoy the review and stay tuned for a new series of Canadian Whisky Reviews coming in the weeks ahead.

Chimo!

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on Review: Pendleton 1910 Canadian Whisky (Aged 12 Years)

Review: Pendleton (Let’er Buck) Canadian Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 28, 2018

Pendleton (Let ‘er Buck) Canadian Whisky is distilled and aged in Canada. The spirit is then transported to Oregon where it is brought to bottling proof by Hood River Distillers using the glacial fed waters from Mt. Hood. The whisky is named to honour The Pendleton Round-up, a well-respected rodeo in Pendleton, Oregon, and in fact, Pendleton Whisky sponsors numerous rodeos, including the aforementioned  the Pendleton Round-Up, the Cheyenne Frontier Days, and the Walla Walla Frontier Days.

This is a non age stated whisky bottled at 40 % alcohol by volume.

Here is a link to my review:

Review: Pendleton (Let’er Buck) Canadian Whisky

“… The aroma is clean and spicy with ginger and oak accenting a honeyed toffee. As the glass breathes, the oak spice gains steam, hints of cardamom and cinnamon appear, and a light caramel toffee builds. I would not consider this to be an extremely complex whisky, rather it is crisp and clean …”

Please enjoy the review which includes a nice cocktail suggestion, the tall and cold Canadian Mammy.

Chimo!

 

 

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on Review: Pendleton (Let’er Buck) Canadian Whisky

Review: Dunville’s VR Old Irish Whiskey PX Cask Finish

Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 11, 2018

Dunville’s is a whiskey brand first established in Belfast during the 19th Century. Originally a whiskey blender, Dunville & Co. built the Royal Irish Distilleries, on the edge of Belfast in 1869. Unfortunately, Prohibition had a severe impact on the Company as they lost access to US markets during the first quarter of the 20th Century. Although the company weathered that storm, it continued to decline after Prohibition until the firm was wound up (still in a profitable state) in 1936.

The Dunville’s brand was reinstated through the Echlinville Distillery which became Northern Ireland’s first licensed distillery in over 125 years and began distilling its first spirit in 2013. Dunville’s Old Irish Whiskey PX Cask Finish is a 10-year-old Single Malt finished in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks. (It was recently crowned Best Irish Single Malt Under 12 Years at the 2015 World Whiskies Awards.)

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Dunville’s VR Old Irish Whiskey PX Cask Finish

“… The breezes above the glass carry aromas of malted barley combined with oak spice, vanilla, honey, meadow grass, and bits of almond. There is also a firm fruitiness present in the air with both dry fruit (raisins in particular), pears, and impressions of orange peel. Herbal impressions wander into my consciousness (heather, sawgrass and bits of menthol), which combined with the oak spice reminds me of dry tobacco …”

Please enjoy my review as well as my cocktail suggestion, an Irish Whisky Old Fashioned with Aztec Chocolate Bitters.

Posted in Irish Whskey, Single Malt Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Dunville’s VR Old Irish Whiskey PX Cask Finish

#Top100CanadianWhisky #1: Canadian Rockies 21 Year Old

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 23, 2017

Five years ago, I encountered Canadian Rockies 21 Year Old Whisky as a random sample in the group of 45 such samples which I was assessing as part of my duties when I served on the jury for the 2012 Canadian Whisky Awards. Whenever I participate as a spirits judge I always make note of any of the samples which strike me as being particularly good, and the small sample bottle which contained the Canadian Rockies 21 Year Old Whisky was one which I had earmarked as a superior whisky. So, when the Awards Competition was complete, it was to my dismay that I learned this particular whisky (Random Sample number 7 by the way) was a brand destined not for Canada; but instead for Taiwan.

Fortunately Canadian Rockies 21 Year Old is now a standard bottling available in Canadian markets as well. According to the information provided me, the spirit is (as it was before) distilled and aged by Highwood Distillers. It is a 100% corn whisky bottled at 46% alcohol by volume.

In a year which saw the best field of Canadian Whiskies ever produced, Canadian Rockies 21 Year Old stood out as the best. Here is a link to the Rum Howler #1 Canadian Whisky in my list of the 100 Best of 2017:

Review: J.P. Canadian Rockies 21 Year Old

“… This is a full-bodied whisky (rare for a Canadian) with a long satisfying finish. Sweet butterscotch and corn flavours are chased down by oak and cedar spices which leave a lightly bitter echo in the throat. The palate is left glowing with little bursts of cinnamon and orange peel, and then a soothing almost menthol-like sweetness appears leaving me little choice but to pour another dram …”

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We have reached the best whisky in my 2017 countdown of Canada’s top 100. Just to make sure I got it right, I re-tasted each of the top 5 spirits side by side to determine my final scores and rankings.

You can view the entire list by viewing my Reveal Page here on this website:

The Rum Howler – Top 100 Canadian Whiskies of 2017

I hope everyone enjoyed the Countdown!

Merry Christmas!

Posted in Awards, Canadian Whisky, Extras, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review, Whisky Review | Tagged: , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

#Top100CanadianWhisky #2: J.P. Wiser’s Dissertation

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 22, 2017

While Dr. Don Livermore was earning his PhD., one of the topics he was researching was the relationships between barrel aging, time and flavour. He did this by analyzing various types of oak barrels which were maturing whisky in the warehouses at Pike Creek, Ontario. The work he was doing eventually became the basis for his Thesis Dissertation which earned him his PhD. in Brewing and Distilling.

Fortunately for us, the Hiram Walker Distillery Master Blender has taken those same whisky barrels which he studied while earning his PhD. and artfully blended his J.P. Wiser’s Dissertation. The whisky is a rye forward blend bottled at 46.1 % alcohol by volume.

Here is a link to the Rum Howler #2 Canadian Whisky in my list of the 100 Best of 2017:

Review: J.P. Dissertation

“… There are some notes of burlap and maple syrup dipped graham wafers, rich marmalade, canned apricots and oodles of beautiful rye and oak spices. After my tasting sessions the empty glass was full of rich brown sugars, maple and baking spices reminding me of fresh-baked cinnamon rolls coming out of the oven …”

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We have reached the top 5 whiskies in my 2017 countdown of Canada’s best. Just to make sure I got it right, I re-tasted each of the top 5 spirits side by side to determine my final scores and rankings.

Note: To follow the countdown list of the Top 100 Canadian Whiskies of 2017, you should follow me on twitter (Rum Howler on Twitter) using the hashtag #Top100CanadianWhisky.

Alternatively you can view the list as it grows by viewing my Reveal Page here on this website:

The Rum Howler – Top 100 Canadian Whiskies of 2017

Posted in Awards, Canadian Whisky, Extras, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review, Whisky Review | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on #Top100CanadianWhisky #2: J.P. Wiser’s Dissertation