The Rum Howler Blog

Review: Compagnie Des Indes – Caraibes (Rum)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on July 17, 2023

Compagnie des Indes is a French spirits company which produces a growing family of rums selected from various rum producers from all over the world. They import these rums into France, and offer them either as single cask offerings (representing a cane spirit from a particular geographical region) or as carefully selected blends.

Caraibes is one of those carefully selected blends featuring rums from Trinidad, Barbados and Guyana. The rums which form the basis for the blend are stated on the bottle to have been aged between 3 and 5 years in ex-bourbon barrels.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Compagnie Des Indes – Caraibes (Rum)

“… Light butterscotch, almond, licorice, and vanilla with fine wood spice, banana and orange peel following.There is a funky herbal note rising into the air, indicating that perhaps some of the liquid was distilled from a short column or perhaps a pot still …”

Please enjoy my review which concludes with a nice cocktail suggestion, my Embargo Cocktail.

Posted in Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: Caraibes, Compagnie Des Indes, Review, Rum | Comments Off on Review: Compagnie Des Indes – Caraibes (Rum)

Review: Hendrick’s Neptunia Gin

Posted by Arctic Wolf on July 12, 2023

Hendrick’s Neptunia is one of the new peculiar Limited Edition spirits in the Hendrick’s Cabinet of Curiosity lineup which has recently arrived in Canada sporting odd names like Lunar, Flora Adora, Orbium and in this case Neptunia.

Hendricks Neptunia Gin was created by their Master Distiller Lesley Gracie. According to the promotional materials sent to me:

Hendricks Neptunia is a limited release that captures the magic of the sea, in a gin. Ms. Lesley Gracie’s creation is as refreshing as her muse, the mighty waves that lash the Ayrshire coast. Infused with an exquisite blend of locally sourced coastal botanicals and with a remarkable crisp citrus finish.

Here is a link to my review and tasting notes:

Review: Hendrick’s Neptunia Gin

“… Bright citrus zest and spicy coriander lead out in front of juniper with a light touch of menthol freshness. (I guess this touch of menthol is meant to represent the effervescence of the coastal sea spray.) Cucumber and red berries wander into the flavour profile with the blush of a flowery bouquet settling into the background …”

Please enjoy my review and stay tuned for more selections from Hendrick’s Gin throughout the summer.

Chimo!

Posted in Gin, Gin Review | Tagged: Gin, Hendrick's, Neptunia, Review, William Grant & Sons | Comments Off on Review: Hendrick’s Neptunia Gin

Review: Diablesse Clementine Spiced Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on July 10, 2023

According to the Diablesse Caribbean Rum website their Clementine Spiced Rum is produced in Guyana at the Diamond Distillery using locally produced sugar cane molasses which has been distilled in both traditional pot and column stills using methods which stretch back in time for over 100 years.

This is an all female owned Rum Company, and their rum, Diablesse Clementine Spice Rum, is named for a feminine figure from Caribbean folklore. Once human, Diablesse’s vanity causes her to give her soul to the Devil in return for eternal youth. Unfortunately, this deal also transforms her into a demon with a hideous face and one leg that ends in a cow’s foot. By hiding her face with a wide brimmed hat and her foot by walking with one leg on the grass, she retains the power of seduction over male victims who she lures into the forest to be killed. (That’s quite a backstory for a spiced rum!)

Here is a link to my full review where you can learn the rest of the story:

Review: Diablesse Clementine Spiced Rum

“… The spices are sort of aggressive indicating the rum will have a bit of bite in the delivery. The overall effect however is pleasant as the flavour and spice mixture seems to be nicely balanced. In the background we notice hints of alcohol, not surprising as the rum is bottled at full strength …”

Please enjoy my review which includes my cocktail suggestion, The Boxcar.

Chimo!

Posted in Rum, Rum Reviews, Spiced Rum | Tagged: Clementine, Diablesse, Diablesse Caribbean Rum, Review, Spiced Rum | Comments Off on Review: Diablesse Clementine Spiced Rum

Review: Baker’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Posted by Arctic Wolf on July 7, 2023

Baker’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is an original member of Jim Beam’s Small Batch Bourbon Collection composed of Booker’s, Baker’s, Knob Creek,and Basil Hayden’s. Although Jim Beam Distillers no longer promotes the Small Batch Collection, I would like to suggest that this selection of premium bourbon played no small part in the explosion of popularity of the spirit for whiskey enthusiasts. (It certainly has a positive impact on me.)

Baker’s Bourbon is named for Baker Beam, who was the grand-nephew of James Beauregard Beam (Jim Beam). Each bottle is poured from a single barrel. When that barrel is used up, the next bottles will come from a new barrel. This means that the overall flavour profile is unique to each barrel produced.

Baker’s Bourbon is bottled at 107 proof (53.5% alcohol by volume) and produced from whisky which was aged for a minimum of 7 years.

Here is a link to my review:

Review: Baker’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

“… The breezes above the glass were rich and enticing with the scents of sappy oak, rich vanilla and caramel chocolate. Honeycomb joins in with luscious baking spices (particularly cloves and cinnamon) drifting into the breezes …”

Please enjoy this review; hopefully I will get a chance to take another look at the other original members of the Jim Beam Small Batch Collection in the coming months.

Chimo!

Posted in Howls | Tagged: Baker's Bourbon, Kentucky Straight Bourbon, Review, Whiskey, Whiskey Review | Comments Off on Review: Baker’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Review: Trait-Carré Aged Gin 1665

Posted by Arctic Wolf on July 5, 2023

It’s time to go back to the Distillerie de Québec which was founded several years ago by Christophe Légasse and David Lévesque. So far in my examinations of the distilleries spirits, I have reviewed their Rhum St-Roc Foundation, as well as their Trait-Carré Dry Gin, both of which I enjoyed.

Today I will share my review of Trait-Carré Aged Gin 1665 which has been constructed from the same botanicals as the dry gin, but aged for up to two years in quarter casks of American rye whisky. This aged gin has won numerous awards, most notable a Double Gold Medal at the 2020 Berlin International Spirits Competition.

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Trait-Carré Aged Gin 1665

“… Juniper arrives alongside a mild butterscotch sweetness and light scents of almond and vanilla. Citrus zest and red berries give the gin a light fruity quality and then a sort of menagerie of indistinct scents and smells arrive in a jumble giving me an impression of those dense evergreen forests that grow in the foothills next to the Rocky mountains …”

Please enjoy my review of this ‘sipping’ gin.

Chimo!

Posted in Gin, Gin Review | Tagged: Aged Gin, Distillerie de Québec, Gin, Review, Trait-Carré | Comments Off on Review: Trait-Carré Aged Gin 1665

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