The Rum Howler Blog

The Year in Gin

Posted by Arctic Wolf on October 26, 2012

When I began to publish my Rum Howler Awards two years ago, I had no idea how quickly they would grow, nor how popular they would become. Although, these awards were originally meant to be a fun excuse for me to revisit my most favoured distilled spirits and share that re-visitation with you, my readers, from the beginning I tried my best to treat the process with respect. Apparently Industry respects my awards too. Last year I saw my Rum Howler Award Badge proudly displayed on company websites (see here), on bottle neck ringers (see here), and in the advertising campaigns (see here) of some of the winners. It is my belief that my Rum Howler Awards have become more than just a fun excuse to revisit my most favoured spirits, they have become important markers for both connoisseurs and for industry.

This Year I am going to begin presenting my awards by looking at the Rum Howler’s Year in Gin.

Here is a Link to the Awards Page:

The 2012 Rum Howler Awards – The Year in Gin

Congratulations to all the Award Winners!

Posted in Gin, Gin Review | Tagged: DrinkWire, Gin, Gin Review, Rum Howler Awards | Comments Off on The Year in Gin

Review: Magic Moment Remix Chocolate Flavoured Vodka

Posted by Arctic Wolf on October 25, 2012

The Magic Moments Remix Flavoured Vodkas are triple distilled grain spirits from Radico Khaitan Ltd. (Radio Cask) who is one of India’s oldest and largest liquor manufacturers. (Radico Khaitan was formerly known as the Rampur Distillery which was established in 1943.) The flagship product, M2 Magic Moments Vodka was launched in November of 2005, and it quickly became India’s fastest growing deluxe vodka. Since then, the company has also introduced 6 new vodka flavors or ‘remixes’, Green Apple, Lemon, Orange, Chocolate, Raspberry, and Ginger and Lemongrass. the consistent quality of all of these remix flavours has led to winning awards at both the International Spirits Challenge and Monde Selection Award 2011.

This is the final review in my series of the Magic Moments Brand, thus far I have found the Magic Moments Vodka and the Remix flavour to be very much to my liking. Here is an excerpt from my review of the Magic Moment Remix Chocolate:

“… When I brought the glass to my nose I could smell nice chocolate notes above the glass. The smell reminded me of a dark semi-sweet chocolate bar with hints of shredded coconut embedded within. The aroma is nice… “

You may read my full review here:

Review: Magic Moment Remix Chocolate Flavoured Vodka

I have included a couple of nice recipes with the review, I hope you enjoy them.

Cheers!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Flavoured Vodka, Vodka, Vodka Reviews | Tagged: A.A. Impex, Flavoured Vodka, Magic Moments, Radico Khaitan Ltd, Rampur Distillery, Remix, Vodka, Vodka Review | Comments Off on Review: Magic Moment Remix Chocolate Flavoured Vodka

Review: Forty Creek Copper Pot Reserve

Posted by Arctic Wolf on October 22, 2012

The Forty Creek Copper Pot Reserve, (like all Forty Creek Whiskies), is built upon Whisky Maker, John Hall’s, foundation of three separately distilled grains: barley, corn and rye. Each grain is distilled and aged in oak separately. When each whisky is ready, the three finished whiskies are blended together and ‘married’ in oak once more allowing the three to become one.

Indeed, John Hall’s flagship whisky, the Forty Creek Barrel Select is a perfect example of that concept of marrying three separately distilled and aged grain whiskies into one. The Copper Pot Reserve is a more ‘premium’ version of the Barrel Select. Mr. Hall chose his best grain whiskies as the base for the Copper Pot. He aged these best whiskies a little longer to bring in more flavour from the oak, and then he chose the best of these whiskies to marry together in oak once more to complete the final blend. The Copper Pot Whisky is bottled at 43 % abv (rather than the traditional 40 %) allowing this premium whisky to showcase its robust flavour.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“… The initial nose of the whisky brings oak and rye spices into the breezes above the glass with an effervescent orange peel zest riding the coattails of the spice. As the glass sits, green tobacco and orange marmalade jump in with a soft punky caramel tainting their scent. I detect some cinnamon and ginger rising up from the glass and my sense is that the Copper Pot is going to be a very interesting and complex whisky… “

You may read the full review here:

Review: Forty Creek Copper Pot Reserve

Please enjoy my review of this outstanding whisky!

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: Canadian Whisky, Forty creek Copper Pot Whisky, Forty Creek Whisky, John Hall, Whisky, Whisky Review | Comments Off on Review: Forty Creek Copper Pot Reserve

Review: Pyrat Rum Cask 1623

Posted by Arctic Wolf on October 20, 2012

Pyrat Rum Cask 1623 is, according to the Pyrat Website, the flagship brand for Pyrat Rum. It is constructed from aged Caribbean stocks, some of which are reported to be up to 40 years old. The brand is owned by Patrón Spirits a company created in 1989 by John Paul DeJoria, and Martin Crowley. The company does not own a distillery, rather they act as a third-party company sourcing what they believe to be the best stocks for their products and blending them according to their own formulas. There is always a bit of secrecy surrounding these private blends, but perhaps I can shed a little light on the production of Pyrat Rum.

Pyrat Rum was previously bottled by the Anguilla Rums Company. However there has been a recent change. When I was in Guyana earlier this year, I was given a tour of the Diamond Bottling Plant owned by Demerara Distillers Ltd. (DDL). During this tour, I was told that Pyrat Rum had just installed their own private bottling line within the Diamond plant. Pyrat Rum, I was told, is primarily a Demerara rum blended and bottled in Guyana. (A small portion of this blend is from rum sourced outside of Guyana). I was able to witness the Pyrat Rum bottling line in operation during my tour of the Diamond plant. I was also told that a portion of the Pyrat blend is produced on Demerara Distillers’ High Ester Still. This is a functioning John Dore Still which is capable of producing intense flavours within the distillate. If you have sampled any Pyrat Rum you have probably noticed a very different flavour profile.

I was able to acquire a 3/4 full bottle of the Pyrat Rum Cask 1623 from my good friend Lance Surujbally (of Liquorature). I put the rum though the paces of my Review Methodology and here is an excerpt from the resulting review.

“… The flavour of the rum is just as intense as the nose. It is that candied sweet aroma of orange and apricot brandy which dominates the rum. I also taste some nice vanilla accents, some spicy tobacco underneath, and just a little butterscotch. You either like this, or you do not. I have to admit that I am torn …”

You may read the full review here:

Review: Pyrat Rum Cask 1623

Please enjoy the review of this most unusual rum!

Cheers!

Posted in Dark Rums, Liqueur, Liqueur Review, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: Dark Rum, Liqueur, Liqueur Review, Pyrat Rum Cask 1623, Rum, Rum Liqueur | Comments Off on Review: Pyrat Rum Cask 1623

Review: Austin Nichols Wild Turkey Bourbon

Posted by Arctic Wolf on October 19, 2012

According to the Wild Turkey website, Austin Nichols Wild Turkey Bourbon, is composed of a mash bill which includes three grains: corn from Kentucky and Indiana; barley from Montana; and rye grain from North Dakota. Apparently the yeast used in the fermentation has been cultured at the distillery and the actual strains used are kept a closely guarded secret. The whiskey is distilled to a low proof which results in less water needing to be added after maturation to bring the spirit to bottling strength. The belief is that this leads to a fuller more authentic ‘just from the barrel’ flavour.

Wild Turkey, like all American bourbon is aged solely in new white American oak barrels.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“… The Wild Turkey is full of oak and rye spices in the initial delivery. Being a huge fan of rye, I am really liking what I am tasting. Along with the rye and the oak, I taste the sweetness of corn, some honeycomb and tobacco, a nice smattering of cloves, cinnamon and vanilla; and a light dry bitterness which actually works well with the overall flavour…”

You may read the full review here:

Review: Austin Nichols Wild Turkey Bourbon

I included a nice Mint Julep recipe with the review, one which I call the Northern Julep.

Please enjoy my review and cocktail!

Posted in American Whiskey, Whisk(e)y | Tagged: Austin Nichols, Bourbon, Cocktails and Recipes, Mint Julep, Whisk(e)y Review, Whiskey, Wild Turkey | Comments Off on Review: Austin Nichols Wild Turkey Bourbon

« Previous Entries

Next Entries »

The Rum Howler Blog

(A Website for Spirited Reviews)

Copyright

Cocktails and Recipes

Industry Interviews

The Rum Howler Interview (Good Food Revolution)