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Review: Summer Love Raspberry Vodka

Posted by Arctic Wolf on March 11, 2018

This past fall at the Rocky Mountain Food and Wine Show I met, Mike Stanfield, Founder of Starr Distilling Co. based in Calgary Alberta. He was presenting his new Summer Love Vodka flavours, Raspberry and Peach. We struck up a conversation about the burgeoning Micro distilling industry in Alberta, and I wanted to know his story.

Mike told me that his venture started as a hobby making Limoncello and Coffee Liqueurs in his basement to share with friends. His repertoire expanded to making fruit infusions and letting them sit for months to absorb flavor and color. Mike said that he never intended to make spirits commercially, he just enjoyed serving his creations at dinner parties sending his friends home a little happier than when they arrived.

Mike eventually found SRL Global Distillers and a business relationship was forged. They currently produce his Summer Love Raspberry and Spiced Pear Vodkas which he is marketing in Alberta. The base vodka for these spirits is distilled 5 times and filtered to be a neutral spirit. Real fruit from British Colombia is used to create his flavours.

Summer Love Raspberry Vodka is produced using more than a pound of real raspberries in every bottle! It features the both the tart and the sweet flavour of fresh-picked British Columbia raspberries.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Summer Love Raspberry Vodka

“… Mike promised me both the tart and the sweet flavour of fresh-picked British Columbia raspberries. I am happy to say that the flavour I encountered when I took my first sip was exactly as described. If any sugar has been added to sweeten the flavour, that sweetness has been added judiciously which makes this about as good a representation of real raspberry fruit as I have tasted in a flavoured spirit …”

Please enjoy my review which concludes with a nice cocktail suggestion, my Cran-Raspberry Cosmopolitan.

Chimo!

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Review: English Harbour 5 Year Old Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on March 9, 2018

Over the next three weeks I will be examining the entire family of English Harbour Rum, the 5 Year Old Rum (which I have examined previously) as well as the 10 and 25 Year Old Rums (which I have not previously reviewed).

According to the Antigua Distillery Limited website all English Harbour Rum is aged in used American bourbon barrels which are charred on the inside. Interestingly, as each barrel is filled a handful of oak chips is added to enhance the interaction of oak and rum. The English Harbour 5 Year Old Rum is a genuine Caribbean rum. The rum is named for the Antiguan naval port of English Harbour which was the site of naval confrontations between the English and the French who were the two major naval powers of the 18th Century.

Here is a link to my recently revised review:

Review: English Harbour 5 Year Rum

“… The initial air above the glass presents a complex aroma of molasses, treacle (burnt caramel), toasted coconut and orange peel. The rum has a smoky quality as well which reminds me of dry fruit (raisins, dates, and prunes). A bit of damp cigar tobacco and some muted almond scents round out the nose …”

Please enjoy my review which includes a nice cocktail suggestion for this rum, the Brooklynite.

Chimo!

 

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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: Gautier VSOP Fine Cognac

Posted by Arctic Wolf on March 6, 2018

The making of cognac is governed by strict rules designed to guarantee consistency of quality and character. All cognac must be produced from a specific region of France whose appellation was first set out by decree on May 1, 1909. Since 1938, this appellation has been composed of six crus: Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Borderies, Fins Bois, Bon Bois, and Bois a Terroir. (You can think of these crus a specific grape growing regions within the overall appellation.) The grape juice from which the cognac is distilled is produced solely from white grapes which have been grown within the appellation.

In 1755 the Gautier family obtained a Royal Warrant and a founding charter from the King Louis XV for the purpose of making Cognac. It is probable that the family was active making brandy and cognac prior to 1755; however, the Royal Warrant and Founding Charter mark the official launch of the Maison Gautier.

(The Maison Gautier VSOP blend is produced from eaux de vie derived from grapes grown in the Petite Champagne, Fins Bois and Bons Bois “crus”.)

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Gautier VSOP Fine Cognac

“… The breezes above the glass carried a nice aroma which represents a melding of oak spice, raisin and caramel toffee. The spiciness of the oak is firm but not assertive which appeals to me as sometimes oak can dominate a spirit to the detriment of the other aromas and flavours …”

Please enjoy my review which includes two luscious cocktail suggestions, Champs Élysées, and the Sidecar, two classic Cognac/Brandy Cocktails.

Chimo!

Posted in Brandy and Cognac Reviews, Cognac Review | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Gautier VSOP Fine Cognac

Review: Cabo Wabo Blanco Tequila

Posted by Arctic Wolf on March 5, 2018

When I first reviewed Caba Blanco Tequila six years ago, it was listed on most websites as a spirit produced from agave grown in the lowlands of Mexico’s Tequila producing region.This was important to know, because lowland agave will usually bring more earthy/punky flavours through the distillation than highland agave which tends to bring fruitier/spicier flavours through the distillation. This year when I researched the spirit, I could no longer verify any information regarding the terroir of the agave used to produce the brand. I am not sure whether anything has changed, and in fact my previous tasting notes  seemed to indicate a spirit which relied more upon highland grown agave  rather than lowland.

To be clear, I am not sure whether anything within the spirit changed, however it is true that the ownership of the brand has been evolving. Cabo Wabo Tequila was created in 1996 by Rock & Roll legend, Sammy Hagar and named after the nightclub he owned in Cabo San Lucas. In 2007, Gruppo Campari purchased 80 % of the brand from the musician, and then purchased the remaining 20 % in 2011. Thus the brand is no longer produced under the direction of Sammy Hagar.

As my original review for the spirit may no longer reflect the current contents, I thought it would be fun to revisit the Cabo Wabo Blanco Tequila with an updated review.

Here is a link to that review:

Review: Cabo Wabo Blanco Tequila

“… The breezes brought a mild, but firm agave scent which gave me impressions of grilled zucchini. The fruity agave was joined by the spiciness of citrus zest and spicy white pepper. There also seemed to be light impressions of mint and green bell peppers. I like the overall aroma which although mild, is also inviting …”

Please enjoy this review which concludes with my cocktail suggestion, the Deep Blue Good-bye.

Chimo!

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