The Rum Howler Blog

# 53 Amrut Fusion Single Malt Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on November 2, 2015

The Amrut Distillery is situated in Bangalore, ‘the garden city’ of India. The distillery sits in a tropical locale 3000 ft above sea level with its water source being the Himalayan Mountains.

The Amrut Fusion Single Malt Whisky is produced from two geographically disparate grains. The majority of the barley used to produce this whisky was grown and harvested at the foot of the Himalayan Mountains.This Punjabi barley was mashed, distilled and aged in the distillery at Bangalore. The distillery also uses a peated barley sourced in Scotland and this barley is as well brought to the facilities in Bangalore to be separately mashed, distilled and then aged until maturity.

SAM_1016 Fusion When each separately distilled whisky is ready, they are blended and then aged for a second period of time to allow the different whiskies flavours to marry in the barrel prior to bottling. Incidentally, all of the barrels used for maturation of the whisky are refill America Bourbon oak barrels. As all of the mashing, distillation, aging and blending was done at the same Bangalore distillery in India, the whisky is a true single malt which represents the fusion of two different whiskies.

Here is a link to the review of the #53 spirit on my Rum Howler Top 100 Spirits Countdown.

#53 – Amrut Fusion Single Malt Whisky

“… The initial breezes above the glass carried the light indications of a peated whisky with a firm oaked character. I could smell a bit of a boggy lowland meadow complete with clumps of heather and sawgrass, and a stand willow trees growing near a black bottomed creek. There was a floral element in the air reminding me of lavender and lilac bushes, and some interesting notes of spearmint, orange peel, tar, iodine and salty brine …”

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You may follow my Countdown list of the 100 Best Spirits here: The Rum Howler 2015 – Top 100 Spirits

Posted in Awards, Extras, Indian Whisky, Single Malt Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: Amrut Fusion, Indian Whisky, Rum howler, Single Malt, Top 100 Spirits, Whisky, Whisky Review | Comments Off on # 53 Amrut Fusion Single Malt Whisky

#54 Appleton Estate Master Blender’s Legacy

Posted by Arctic Wolf on November 1, 2015

In 1749, in the Nassau Valley of Jamaica, the Appleton Estate Sugar Factory was founded. The Nassau Valley is a fertile, interior valley with a special mild micro-climate which is ideally suited to the growth of sugarcane. A water source which wells from a limestone rock formation provides an exceptionally soft pure water which used for the production of Appleton Rums. The Appleton Estate Rum is crafted from pot stills in small batches. After blending and aging the rums are ready for bottling. Unlike most rums produced in the Caribbean, Jamaican law forbids the use of an age statement unless the entire contents of the bottle are aged at least as long as the stated age.

Appleton Estate Maser SAM_1727 The Appleton Estate Master Blender’s Legacy was produced to recognize three generations of Appleton Estate Master Blenders, Joy Spence, the current Master Blender, Owen Tulloch, the previous Master Blender, and, David Morrison the current protégé of Joy Spence. All three blenders have set their mark on this luxurious rum which is a blend of rums which range in age from 18 years to 30 years.

Here is a link to the review of the #54 spirit on my Rum Howler Top 100 Spirits Countdown.

#54 – Appleton Estate Master Blender’s Legacy

“… There appears to be a light smoothness associated with the rum that makes everything on the nose more approachable than the other rums in their line-up. The orange peel which is very prevalent in the other Appleton rums is now combined with a lemon scent with both hiding behind or perhaps I should say melting into a light oak aroma. The brown sugar notes are softer as are other spices. Apricots, pears, pecans, allspice and nutmeg drift delicately in the air as well …”

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You may follow my Countdown list of the 100 Best Spirits here: The Rum Howler 2015 – Top 100 Spirits

Posted in Awards, Extras, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: Appleton Estate, Master Blenders legacy, Review, Rum, Rum howler, Top 100 Spirits | 1 Comment »

# 55 Gibson’s Finest Rare 18 Years Old Canadian Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on October 31, 2015

In 1856, John Gibson purchased 40 acres and built a distillery along the shore of the Monongahela River in Pennsylvania. By the turn of the century, the Gibson’s Distilling Company was the largest producer of rye whisky in North America. In 1923, the entire contents of the distillery including the stills, the aging barrels, all of the remaining spirit, (and even the grain which was on site) was sold to Schenley Industries of New York. Fifty years later this whisky brand, which was born on the US side of the border in Pennsylvania, was resurrected by the brand owner at the Schenley Distillery in Valleyfield, Quebec. Now, of course, it has become one of the iconic brands of Canadian Whisky.

Gibson's Finest 18 SAM_1743 The Gibson’s Finest brand is produced from of two sources: a base grain whisky (which would be a corn-based column still whisky), and a blend of rye based flavouring whisky which contains rye and malted barley (distilled by a single column still and a pot still). Gibson’s Finest Rare 18 Years Old Whisky is limited to a production of not more than 12,000 bottles per year.

Here is a link to the review of the #55 spirit on my Rum Howler Top 100 Spirits Countdown.

#55 – Gibson’s Finest Rare 18 Years Old

“… The initial aroma is spicy with a firm oak presence. The breezes above the glass are filled with tobacco, rye, and (what I am going to term) clean firm oak spices. These dominant scents are accented by caramel, butterscotch and vanilla. Some dusty dry notes of freshly harvested grain, autumn cornstalks, and dry straw rise into those initial breezes as well …”

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You may follow my Countdown list of the 100 Best Spirits here: The Rum Howler 2015 – Top 100 Spirits

Posted in Awards, Canadian Whisky, Extras, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: 18 Year Old, Canadian Whisky, Gibson's Whisky, Rare, Review, Rum howler, Top 100 Spirits, Whisky | Comments Off on # 55 Gibson’s Finest Rare 18 Years Old Canadian Whisky

#56 Corzo Reposado Tequila

Posted by Arctic Wolf on October 30, 2015

Corzo Reposado is a 100% Blue Weber Agave Tequila produced from Highland agave whose manufacture is a bit of an interesting tale. The process begins with a long (slow) fermentation cycle which apparently takes place while the music of Mozart is playing in the background. The resulting liquid is then double distilled with only a small center cut taken from each distillation, in fact this fine center cut requires the company to use twice as much agave to produce the tequila as would normally be used.

Corzo Reposado SAM_1881 The resulting distillate is then rested for 2 to 4 months in American white oak barrels. After the tequila has matured for this first amount of time the tequila is then distilled a third time. After the third distillation the tequila is then matured (or rested) for a second period of time (3 to 6 months) in French oak.

Here is a link to the review of the #56 spirit on my Rum Howler Top 100 Spirits Countdown.

#56 – Corzo Reposado Tequila

“… The entry onto the palate begins softly with honey and a mixture of dark and citrus fruit leading the way. However, the tequila quickly asserts its Highland character with spicy pepper and herbaceous agave spilling over the taste-buds. I taste impressions of grilled pineapple with hints of cinnamon, as well as flavours of vanilla pudding, lemon gumdrops, coconut, anise, nutmeg and almond …”

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You may follow my Countdown list of the 100 Best Spirits here: The Rum Howler 2015 – Top 100 Spirits

Posted in Awards, Extras, Reposado Tequila, Tequila, Tequila Review | Tagged: Corzo, Reposado, Review, Rum howler, Tequila, Top 100 Spirits | Comments Off on #56 Corzo Reposado Tequila

#57 Ninety “Decades of Richness” 20 Year Old Canadian Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on October 29, 2015

In November of 2005, Highwood Distillers finalized the purchase of Potters Distilleries (founded by Ernie Potter in 1958). Part of this acquisition, was the purchase of all of the remaining barrel aged stocks of whisky in the Potters facility. These barrels of whisky were transferred from the Potters warehouse facilities in Kelowna, B.C. to the newly constructed warehouse facility in High River, Alberta, where they were allowed to continue to age at the foot of the Rocky Mountains on the western edge of the Canadian Prairies. The whisky brands which Potters Distilleries had established (Century and Potters) were added to Highwood’s portfolio of spirits where they have not only been maintained but also expanded upon. Part of that expansion was the 2013 addition of the ‘Ninety’ branded whiskies to the Century Distillers line-up. Like the other whiskies in the Century portfolio, the Ninety branded spirits are corn-based rather than wheat-based blends. (Highwood Distillers uses the Highwood brand for all of its wheat based whiskies.)

Ninety 20 Year Old SAM_1400 Highwood chose the brand name ‘Ninety’ because these new whiskies are bottled at 90 proof (or 45 % alcohol by volume) rather than the usual 80 proof (40 % alcohol by volume). The higher bottling strength means that the final whisky will retain a character closer to the original cask strength whiskies from which they were blended. In the case of the Ninety “Decades of Richness” 20 Year Old Canadian Rye Whisky, the bulk of blend almost certainly has been drawn from Highwood’s treasured reserves of remaining Potters whisky stocks.

Here is a link to the review of the #57 spirit on my Rum Howler Top 100 Spirits Countdown.

#57 – Ninety “Decades of Richness” 20 Year Old Canadian Whisky

“… The different aspects of the aroma (the wood and rye spiciness and the corn and butterscotch sweetness) are melded together beautifully creating a very enticing aroma in the air above the glass. As I enjoy those breezes, I also notice impressions of creamy vanilla pudding, hints of almond turning to sweeter marzipan, zesty orange peel turning to sticky marmalade, and lightly sweetened cereal grain …”

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You may follow my Countdown list of the 100 Best Spirits here: The Rum Howler 2015 – Top 100 Spirits

Posted in Awards, Canadian Whisky, Extras, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: 20 Year Old, Canadian Whisky, Century Distillers, Highwood Distillers, Ninety, Review, Rum howler, Top 100 Spirits, Whisky | Comments Off on #57 Ninety “Decades of Richness” 20 Year Old Canadian Whisky

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