The Rum Howler Blog

Beyond Islay: Part 1 – Tobermory 10 Year Old

Posted by Arctic Wolf on January 29, 2017

tobermory-10 The Tobermory 10 Year Old is an unpeated Single Malt which I tasted at an event hosted by Ryan Engen who is the Director of Spirits, for Liquor Stores N.A. Inc. at the Edmonton Wine and Beyond McTagggert Ridge location. At the tasting I enjoyed 7 different Single Malts in what was termed the Beyond Islay Single Malt Whisky Tasting. The Whiskies at the tasting were selected to represent the diversity of Scotland’s Island Whiskies reaching beyond the popular Islay Whiskies to the malts produced on the lesser known Islands. The Tobermory brand is distilled upon the Isle of Mull.

While I normally do not write full reviews based upon my impressions tasting events, in this case I thought the theme of the event (going beyond Islay) was such a good idea that I did indeed write full tasting notes for each whisky as I tasted it. Later I expanded these tasting notes into a full review for each whisky and I plan to publish them in my 7 part Beyond Islay Series.

Here is my link to my full review of the Tobermory 10 Year Old Single Malt Whisky:

Review: Tobermory 10 Year Old Single Malt Whisky

“… The light peatiness I noticed was enveloped in orange and citrus notes. Herbal impressions of heather and menthol come through, and perhaps there is a clump of willow trees setting in the background. Grassy notes of fresh hay compliment the herbal notes and the nose is rounded out with light vanilla and almond impressions …”

Please enjoy my review which includes my cocktail suggestion, the Single Malt Crusta.

Chimo!

Posted in Single Malt Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: 10 Year Old, Beyond Islay, Mull, Review, Tobermory | Comments Off on Beyond Islay: Part 1 – Tobermory 10 Year Old

Review: Embargo Ron Extra Del Caribe

Posted by Arctic Wolf on January 27, 2017

Embargo Ron Extra Del Caribe is a new rum brand brought into Western Canada by Charton Hobbs. The rum is produced by Les Bienheureux S.A.S. (in Paris France) and is a blend of two aged ’round and smooth’ Spanish-style molasses rums, one from Guatemala and one from Cuba, combined with a small amount of a younger French agricole rhum from Martinique (which is said to provide a ‘powerful aromatic kick’).

The spirit carries no age statement, however the information sheets provided to me by the distributor indicate that the rum is classified as an ‘Anejo Extra’ which implies approximately a 3 year aging period. It is my suspicion though, that this designation would apply only to the Guatemalan and Cuban portion of the blend with the small amount of agricole rum from Martinique being younger.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Embargo Ron Extra Del Caribe

“… I can identify both styles of rum within the blend quite readily. The Spanish rums within the blend bring a light butterscotch scent into the air which mingles with banana peel and citrus (lemon and orange) zest. There are hints of sandalwood and ginger, as well as light impressions of warm toast, vanilla and almond. The agricole rum from Martinique brings an herbal quality into the breezes with a light menthol scent, wisps of licorice and cinnamon, bits of heather and hints of resin-like camphor …”

Please enjoy my review of this new (and very interesting) rum from Les Bienheureux.

Chimo!

Posted in Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: Charton Hobbs, Del Caribe, Embargo, Extra, Les Bienheureux, Review, Rhum, Ron, Rum | Comments Off on Review: Embargo Ron Extra Del Caribe

Review: McDowell’s No. 1 Reserve Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on January 25, 2017

United Spirits Limited (USL) is the owner of the McDowell’s No. 1 spirits brand which (with its sales of Whisky, Rum and Brandy) is one of the largest spirits brands in the world. The company is headquartered in India where the lion’s share of those sales take place. In 2013, the spirits conglomerate, Diageo purchased a controlling share in USL (54.8 %) and it was shortly after this acquisition that I began to see the McDowell’s No. 1 Whisky appearing on the store shelves here in Alberta.

McDowell’s No. 1 Whisky is described on the USL website as the flagship brand of the company. It is their best-selling spirit with sales of over 53 million cases per year, and is produced from a blending of both imported Scotch whiskies and selected Indian malts and grain spirits.

Here is a link to my latest whisky review:

Review: McDowell’s No. 1 Reserve Whisky

“… I would describe the aroma as honeyed with a mixture of sweet grain spice and butterscotch, coupled with fine oak spice and hints of malt. I let the glass sit to see how the nose developed, and noticed that fine wood and dusty grain spices began to dominate the breezes …”

Please enjoy my review which includes a very nice tall cocktail, Indian Summer 2.

Chimo everyone!

Posted in Indian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: Bourbon Review, Diageo, India, McDowell's, No. 1 Reserve, United Spirits Limited, USL, Whisky | Comments Off on Review: McDowell’s No. 1 Reserve Whisky

Review: Tryst Vodka

Posted by Arctic Wolf on January 23, 2017

Lemon Gimlet

Tryst Vodka is an American spirit distilled six times from grain.The spirit was produced by TerrePURE Spirits, located in North Charleston, South Carolina, and the company boasts of it ‘revolutionary’ TerrePURE* process which is said to offer the cleanest, smoothest and best tasting vodka know to man. The Spirit is part of the Preferred Selection at the Western Canadian Liquor Depot chain of stores, and I was recently provided a bottle for review here on my website.

As part of the review process, I held a Vodka tasting for my friends (the Rum Chums) where we sampled three other new vodkas (Norvegia, Provincial and Foothills) in a blind tasting flight with the Tryst Vodka. I served the spirits chilled where we sipped them each neat, swallowed shots, and sampled each with a variety of foods. We finished the tasting with some cocktails made from each spirit. Comments from my friends often make it into my reviews

Here is a link to my thoughts regarding Tryst Vodka:

Review: Tryst Vodka

“… When we all took a full shot I noted that a corn-like sweetness had been building and I also tasted hints of mint meandering within a firm spicy grain. The combination of spice and clean alcohol warms the belly after the swallow; however it does not bring an undo amount of burn to the throat …”

Please enjoy my review which includes two nice cocktail recipes, the Lemon Gimlet and the Reverse Vesper.

Chimo Everyone!

Posted in Vodka, Vodka Reviews | Tagged: Review, TerrePURE Spirits, Tryst, Vodka | Comments Off on Review: Tryst Vodka

Review: Legendario Elixir de Cuba

Posted by Arctic Wolf on January 20, 2017

elixir-de-cuba-sam_2956 My first review for Legendario Elixir de Cuba was published in 2009, However, as US restrictions of Cuban products appear to be easing I thought it would be timely to revisit the brand. The brand owner, Legendario Rum is headquartered in Spain, however the rum used within the Elixir de Cuba’s blend is apparently imported from Cuba. The brand, was founded in the city of Havana in 1946.

According to the research I conducted, Legendario Elixir de Cuba, is produced from a blend of 2 to 4 year-old Cuban Rums (source: Rum Distribution.com). The rums were aged in American oak barrels at temperatures which approached 47°C. After the rums were blended, extracts of macerated raisins, syrup, and demineralised water are added, and this blended mixture is rested (or married) in American oak barrels for several weeks (30 days) after which the final spirit is filtered through a traditional system of activated carbon filters and silica sand before bottling.

According to Phil Moncton of the GFH Group (the Ontario importer), Legendario Elixir De Cuba is now available in Ontario (via the GFH Group) through LCBO Private Order.

Here is a link to my newly written review for the Legendario Elixir de Cuba:

Review: Legendario Elixir de Cuba

” … The aroma is rich and inviting with smells of oak infused rum and caramel, brandy and raisins, and some dark chocolate drifting in the breezes above the glass. It is almost as if we are encountering a sweet mixture of rum, cognac, and dark caramel …”

Please enjoy my review of this outstanding rum liqueur, Chimo!

Posted in Flavouerd Rums, Liqueur | Tagged: de Cuba, Elixir, Legendario, Liqueur, Review, Rum | Comments Off on Review: Legendario Elixir de Cuba

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