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Review: Jura Superstition Single Malt Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on October 2, 2011

The Isle of Jura apparently has only one road and one hotel, and its population is about 200 persons strong. It has one Distillery which was built at an old smugglers’ cave near the hamlet of Craighouse in 1810. The distillery in those early days led a troubled life. It was never really a viable enterprise, and it soon fell into disrepair and was abandoned. However, 153 years later in 1963 the distillery was rebuilt by two local businessmen, Robin Fletcher and Tony Riley-Smith who turned it into a going concern. That is when they began to distill their Jura Single Malt Whisky.

When the folks at Authentic Wine and Spirits learned that I was reviewing a few Single Malts this fall they added a couple of the Jura expressions to the review line-up. Last week I reviewed the Isle of Jura 10 Year Old Single Malt, and today I am tackling the Jura Superstition.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“…I immediately noticed rich scents and aromas climbing out of the glass to greet my nose. If I closed my eyes and held the glencairn under my nose I could imagine I was in an evergreen forest with damp moss covering the ground. A boggy meadow must be nearby as I smell the damp peat under the meadow grass…”

You may read the full review here:

Review: Jura Superstition Single Malt Whisky

Please enjoy the review!

Posted in Scotch Whisky, Single Malt Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Review: Travellers 3 Barrel Aged Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on September 29, 2011

A few weeks ago I published my review of the Travellers 1 Barrel Rum. I never mentioned it at the time but this review was actually the first of several which I plan to write as I work my way through the Traveller’s line-up. The rum which is the focus of my review today is a brand new rum in that line-up, Travellers 3 Barrel Rum. The 3 Barrel is only available (for now) in Alberta which is the first place the rum has been exported, and in Belize where the rum is produced.

Belize is the northernmost mainland country of Central America. it is a former British Colony and lies just south of Mexico with the Caribbean Sea to the east and Guatemala to the west and south. Travellers Liquors Limited has been involved in the production of  Rum in Belize since the early 1960s originally working with independent distillers. In 1989 Travellers acquired full control of their own distillery and has remained in full control of their 1 Barrel brand ever since.

I was given a bottle of 3 Barrel Rum by Blake Christensson of  Travellers’ Liquor Canada for the purpose of this review. Here is an excerpt:

“…The 3 Barrel Rum has much more to offer as a sipper than the 1 Barrel Rum. The flavour is smoother and richer as the oak has set its imprint into the rum in a delightful way. Butterscotch and baking spices lead out onto the palate with a nice marmalade accent from the oak. The vanilla and the light tobacco flavours are in ample evidence and everything is easy to sip and easy to appreciate…”

Here is a link to the full review:

Review: Travellers 3 Barrel Aged Rum

As well I have included my recipe for 3 Barrel Punch.

Please enjoy the review and the recipe!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , | 1 Comment »

Review: Pusser’s (Blue Label) Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on September 29, 2011

Pusser’s Rum is advertised as the original rum of the British Royal Navy. And it is a fact that for over 300 years it was a tradition in the British Navy that each member of the crew was issued a daily ‘tot’ of rum. This tradition began in 1655, and by 1731, the tradition of the daily ‘tot’ was in general use throughout the British Navy. As it was the ship’s purser who was responsible for issuing the rum. The Rum became known as Pusser’s Rum in a sort of slang derivation of the term ‘Purser’s Rum’.

Although the naval tradition of the daily tot had ended, in 1979 Charles Tobias obtained the rights and the blending information for the British Naval Rum, and formed Pusser’s Ltd. on Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. His company produces their Pusser’s Rum following the blending information and the traditions of the Admiralty, including producing the rum from wooden pot stills just as the had been the tradition for over 200 years.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“…This is a little hot and spicy in the initial mouth feel. The rum has a fresh oaky flavour with tannins disguised as tangy orange zest. As well, a firm vanilla and a light toffee complement this spicy oak and serves to temper its bite. There are some caramel flavours and some baking spices which give the rum depth…”

You may read the full review here:

Review: Pusser’s (Blue Label) Rum

As well I have included my cocktail suggestion for the Pusser’s Rum, The Pain Killer Cocktail.

Please enjoy the review and the cocktail suggestion!!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Dark Rums, Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Review: Luksusowa Vodka

Posted by Arctic Wolf on September 27, 2011

Luksusowa Vodka is an authentic potato vodka produced in Poland and distributed world-wide by the Pernod Ricard conglomerate. The vodka is produced utilizing a combination of traditional and modern production methods which include an initial distillation at a local ‘farm distilleries’, and then further refinement at a larger centralized plant where a continuous column still processes the distillate in a triple distillation which is used in conjunction with gas chromatography to produce a pure potato spirit. This pure spirit is combined with natural spring water from deep artesian wells to produce Luksusowa Vodka.

I learned while researching this spirit that Luksusowa, being a pure potato vodka is gluten-free. It is a good alternative spirit for those who are gluten intolerant or those who may have Celiac disease. For my review, I received a bottle of from the PR agency which represents Luksusowa in Canada. I put the spirit through the paces of my, Vodka Review Methodology and here is an excerpt from the resulting review:

“… When I sampled the Luksusowa Vodka, I invited three friends to help me. I poured each of us a sample in a shot glass for the initial sip, and asked each person to sip just a little letting it sit on their tongue before swallowing…. We all felt the Vodka was very clean on the nose. I thought I could smell a very light starchiness with perhaps a very light hint of citrus zest and spice…“

Here is a link to the full review:

Review: Luksusowa Vodka

As well I have included a nice recipe for this spirit called the Arctic Vodka Cooler.

Please enjoy the review and the included recipe!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Vodka, Vodka Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Review: Jura 10 Year Old Single Malt Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on September 25, 2011

The Isle of Jura lies just seven miles wide and is 30 miles long. It apparently has only one road and one hotel, and its population is about 200 people strong. The Distillery (the island has only one), was built at an old smugglers’ cave near the hamlet of Craighouse in 1810. Unfortunately the distillery in those early days led a troubled life, and it soon fell into disrepair and was abandoned. It was not until 153 years later, in 1963, that the distillery was rebuilt by two local businessmen, Robin Fletcher and Tony Riley-Smith who then began to distill their Jura Single Malt Whisky.

I mentioned to the folks at Authentic Wine and Spirits, that I was going to be reviewing a few Single Malts this fall, and to my delight added a couple of the Jura expressions to the review line-up.

Here is an excerpt from the review:

“….The initial aroma from the glass is of oak spice, almond and marmalade, with a certain fruitiness in evidence as well. Some drier woody notes begin to rise in the breezes and the effect is not unlike the smell of the willow trees in my backyard in the springtime. As the glass breathes hints of peat begin to well up and that almond scent turns to marzipan. Like most whiskies the scents and the aromas grow in the glass over time …”

You may read the full review here:

Review: Jura 10 Year Old Single Malt Whisky

I have included a cocktail suggestion, The Isle of Pleasure.

Please enjoy the review and the cocktail!

Posted in Cocktails & Recipes, Scotch Whisky, Single Malt Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Jura 10 Year Old Single Malt Whisky

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