The Rum Howler Blog

Review: Flor de Caña Extra Dry 4 Year Old Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 19, 2012

Flor de Caña has a history of rum production which is dated to 1890 at the San Antonio Sugar Mill, in Chichigalpa, Nicaragua. The company was founded by Francisco Alfredo Pellas and today, over 120 years later, the company is led headed by the fifth generation of the Pellas family. It has grown to be not only one of Central America’s leading brands of rum, it is also one of the most recognized rum brands in the world.

According to the company website all of the Flor de Caña rum is produced with molasses from sugar cane harvested in fields adjacent to the distillery in Chichigalpa. It is distilled five times in a continuous column still process, and then laid down to age in small American white oak barrels in traditional aging warehouses built without air conditioning in an undisturbed environment.

The subject of this review, the Flor de Caña Extra Dry 4 Year Old Rum is a clear aged rum meant for premium cocktails and mixed drinks. I was given a bottle for review by the local distributor, The Kirkwood Group.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“… The initial scents rising into the breezes above the glass reminded me of a very light caramel molasses. I gave the glass a bit of a swirl, and this brought up a rush of astringency into the air, but once this initial astringency passed, I noticed some very nice complex aromas which included banana peel and butterscotch were left behind… “

You may read the full review here:

Review: Flor de Caña Extra Dry 4 Year Old Rum

I have included a couple of nice cocktails recipes with the review, the Lemon Muddled Cuba Libra, and Red Sky at Night.

Please enjoy the review and the two cocktails provided!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Rum, Rum Reviews, White Rums | Tagged: Cocktails and Recipes, Flor de Cana Rum, Rum, Rum Review, White Rum | Comments Off on Review: Flor de Caña Extra Dry 4 Year Old Rum

Review: Dalmore 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch

Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 16, 2012

Since 1839, the Dalmore Distillery has been producing single malt whisky. The still-house contains 8 unique stills, 4 ‘flat top’ wash stills, and 4 ‘cold water jacket’ spirit stills each uniquely shaped and sized. The whisky is said to gain its distinctive character because of these unique stills and the order in which the distillate is ran through them. The whisky is aged in two types of oak barrels, first fill bourbon barrels from Kentucky, and aged sherry casks from the Spanish Sherry House Gonzalez. Because the distillery is located (near sea level) at the north shores of the Firth of Cromarty, the sea-facing dunnage warehouses are constantly influenced by the briny sea-air which also adds a unique distinctiveness to the Dalmore Malt.

I have been informed that the Dalmore 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch has recently underwent a change in its construction. Formerly the whisky was predominately made from stocks aged in Kentucky Bourbon barrels; however, the whisky is now produced with much more stocks aged in sherry casks. The whisky will now carry more of the sherry influence in its flavour profile with perhaps a richer rounder taste than before.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“… Dark treacle (caramelized sugars) and dried fruit (raisins and prunes) drift out of the glass with a light but firm imprint of oak. As I let the glass decant, the dry fruit gains more expression, and I also began to sense some orange peel and almond in those breezes above the glass. There is perhaps a bit of candied sweetness building as well which is very enticing…. “

You may read my full review here:

Review: Dalmore 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch

Please enjoy the review and my recommended cocktail, Tarnished Brass.

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Scotch Whisky, Single Malt Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: Dalmore, Scotch Whisky, Single Malt Whisky, Whisky, Whisky Review | Comments Off on Review: Dalmore 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch

Happy Valentine’s Day

Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 14, 2012

Here is a recipe to help you celebrate Valentine’s Day!

Raspberry Passion Cocktail

2 oz White Rum
1 oz Cointreau
3/4 oz Grapefruit Juice
3/4 oz Cranberry Juice
3/4 oz Lime Juice
1 barspoon Raspberry Syrup (sweeten to taste)
ice

Place the Rum, the Cointreau, the Fruit Juice, and the Raspberry Syrup into a metal shaker
Shake until the outside of the shaker frosts
Strain into another glass filled with ice

Garnish with a Lime slice or Frozen Raspberry and Enjoy!

Have a Great Valentines Day Everyone!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Rum, White Rums | Tagged: Cocktails and Recipes, Rum, Valentine's Day, White Rum | Comments Off on Happy Valentine’s Day

Review: Battlehill Miltonduff (Aged 8 Years)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 12, 2012

The Battlehill Scotch Whisky is produced by Duncan and Taylor who is an independent bottler of Single Malt Scottiish Whiskies. This company has been acquiring casks from Scottish distilleries for decades and by doing so they have assembled an impressive array of Single Malt casks which they bottle under their own private label. The Battlehill brand was originally conceived as an entry level Single Malt for the bottling of Single Distillery Single Malt Scotches which had been matured for 6 years to 10 years. Over time the range has grown and 16 to 18 Year Old bottlings are now available. Rather than bottling at Cask Strength which is quite common for independant bottlers, the entire Battlehill range is bottled at 43 % alcohol by volume.

The Battlehill Miltonduff 8 Year Old whisky is a blended from multiple Casks all of which are a minimum of eight years of age. I received a sample of this bottling from CSN Wine and Spirits in Calgary, Alberta. This store purchases a wide range of the Battlehill Single Malt Whiskies, and has one of the best selections of Single Malts for sale in the entire province of Alberta.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“… When I raise the glass to my nose, the initial aroma is full of fresh cereal grain with a light dabbing of honey. Some penetrating citrus notes are obvious as well. As the glass breathes I receive impressions of waving grain fields, timothy grass and willow. I like the nose, although it is not overly complex, it is very pleasant and unassuming…”

Here is a link to the full review:

Review: Battlehill Miltonduff (Aged 8 Years)

Please enjoy my review!

Posted in Scotch Whisky, Single Malt Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: Battlehill, Duncan and Taylor, Miltonduff, Single Malt Whisky, Whisky, Whisky Review | 2 Comments »

Review: Proof Vodka

Posted by Arctic Wolf on February 9, 2012

Proof Vodka is a relatively new brand of Vodka produced by Proof Brands. The company currently produces whisky, rum and vodka all of which are bottled at 42 % ABV in unique stubby 500 ml bottles. The brand and the spirits are the creation of Michael Riley, a ten-year veteran of the alcohol beverage industry. Michael spent 5 years as the Director of Spirits for the LCBO (Liquor Control Board of Ontario). He has also has worked with such brands as Crown Royal, Absolut, Captain Morgan, Chivas Regal and Molson Canadian.

As part of the review process, I emailed Michael Riley to learn a little about his vodka. What I learned is that Proof Vodka is triple distilled from wheat which, according to Michael, creates a European style, smooth, clean spirit. The product is bottled at 42% to highlight the sweetness of the wheat and to bring out the clean citrus notes.

I was recently given a bottle of this Proof Rum by the local distributor of Proof Brands, Diamond Estate Wines & Spirits for the purpose of a review here on my website.

Here is an except:

“… As I poured the Proof Vodka into each shot glass during my recent Vodka tasting I noticed the spirit had a creamy texture. At this cold serving temperature (1 degree Celsius) the Proof displays a clean nose with perhaps a hint of anise and mint in the air above the glass. I also sense some very light citrus, and a touch of grain …”

You may read the full review here:

Review: Proof Vodka

Please enjoy the review and the delicious recipe I have provided for the Vodka Cooler.

Cheers!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Vodka, Vodka Reviews | Tagged: Canadian Vodka, Cocktails and Recipes, Vodka, Vodka Review, Wheat Vodka | Comments Off on Review: Proof Vodka

« 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)